Chapter 19
Lacey
T o say I’m exhausted by the time spring break rolls around would be an epic understatement.
And it’s not like being drained of energy is an unknown concept to me.
Being tired is practically my default mode, but midterms were particularly demanding this semester. By some miracle, I made it through the week, and now all I want to do is sleep until I feel like a human being again.
Normally, I’d do just that. I’d pass out and not say a word to anyone for at least two business days, but today was the last exam before spring break, and the girls have been blowing up my phone asking if I’m going to Theo’s spring break party tonight.
Dia
We’ve barely seen each other lately. I miss you!
She’s not wrong about that.
Dia dropped out of school after her accident last year, making it impossible to get together on campus. And Aveena’s way too busy trying to survive her difficult pregnancy to hang out after class. She’s been preserving her energy as much as possible but ultimately decided that she missed us too much to stay home tonight.
Aveena
Girl, if I’m going, you’re going.
Aveena
TJ will be there ;)
My friends using his presence to try and lure me out of my house just goes to show how far gone I am. I could deny it until my voice gave out, but I have it bad. I’m hooked on him now.
Not a day has gone by since the morning we made pancakes where we haven’t texted multiple times. We were both slammed with work, exams, and, in his case, basketball tournaments, but it didn’t stop us from checking in with each other every hour on the dot.
He asked me if I was going to the party this morning, and I didn’t have the heart to tell him no. I said I’d think about it.
What the hell? I’ll sleep when I’m dead.
I text back the girls that I’ll be there and then ask my neighbor if she’s free to watch the kids tonight.
If Sierra thought there would be no consequences after she nearly got herself kidnapped, she was sorely mistaken. I’m monitoring her phone and everything she does now. Not to mention, I had a foolproof lock installed on her window so she can forget about sneaking out when I have my back turned.
TJ messages me right as I’m about to clue him in.
TJ
So? You coming? Not sure how much longer I can miss you without going absolutely bonkers.
TJ
Also, thanks a lot for the new obsession. I haven’t stopped craving pancakes with ice cream since we tried it. Got any more of those weird food combinations from your dad?
I snort out a laugh. That boy is not ready. The pancake-ice-cream thing was nothing compared to the other combos my dad loved.
Lacey
Careful what you wish for. My dad could get WEIRD.
TJ
I can handle it. Shoot.
Lacey
Fine. Pickle and peanut butter.
He messages me immediately.
TJ
I take it back. I can’t handle it.
I chuckle at his text.
Lacey
Told you.
TJ
You didn’t answer my question. You coming to the party tonight?
I type a quick reply and hit Send.
Lacey
I’ll see you there.
“Shut the front door! In the shower ? Someone’s been a naughty girl!” Aveena bursts into a fit of chuckles as we slow down in front of Theo and Chance’s house. The place looks packed . Even the front yard is bustling with people.
“Says the girl with a bun in the oven. Don’t think we don’t know how it got there, missy,” I tease her.
There are so many cars out front Dia has to park a few blocks from the house. “Anything else we should know? Aside from you nearly getting whacked and doing the shower nasty?”
Crazy to think all of this went down in the one week we didn’t see each other.
I stop to think. “Nah, that pretty much covers it. And I told you we didn’t do the nasty.”
“Yet,” Aveena chimes. “This thing seems like it’s getting pretty serious.”
“It’s not. We agreed we’re just having fun,” I argue.
She snorts. “All that tells me is you’re both equally stupid.”
“Hey!” I reach forward, as she’s sitting in the passenger’s seat of Dia’s car, and swat her shoulder playfully.
“I mean, come on , the guy nearly got himself killed trying to protect you and your sister. That doesn’t say casual to me,” she adds.
Part of me wants to believe her. But the other, more reasonable part of me knows better than to let my mind wander. He hasn’t said he wants to date me. Conclusion: he doesn’t like me in that way.
“ And he’s been texting you every single day. If that’s not a sign that he’s fallen for you, I don’t know what is,” Dia weighs in.
Maybe they’re right.
Maybe this has become more.
No, no. That kind of thinking will get your heart broken.
“Doesn’t matter if he’s fallen for me. What matters is what he’s doing about it, which is nothing,” I say.
Dia kills the engine a moment later, and we all climb out of the car.
“Hopefully, he’ll make it official before another guy comes in and makes a play for his friend ,” Dia comments as she’s getting two bottles of red wine out of her trunk.
I shrug, feigning indifference, but inside, I’m thinking, From your mouth to God’s ears, girls.
We link arms as we cross the street and make our way to the party house. TJ told me to text him when I got here, so I do, fishing my phone out of my jeans and sending him a quick “Almost there.”
He doesn’t answer in the five-minute walk it takes to get to the house, but I don’t think much of it.
Whatever, I’ll just see him inside.
We’re pushing the front door open a heartbeat later, and I nearly gasp at the number of drunk students on the other side. I’ve never in the many times I’ve come to one of the guys’ parties seen this many people crammed together.
I can’t stop myself from scanning the area as the girls work their way through the sea of party animals. Aveena excuses herself to the bathroom to pee for the fifth time in an hour and says she’ll find us later.
Dia and I enter the kitchen, and I immediately spot TJ and Aaron in the far corner of the room.
I can only see TJ’s face from where I am, and I’m too far to pick up on what Aaron’s saying to him, but TJ looks furious. Furious and a little bit scared.
Whatever these two are arguing about, it’s got TJ on edge.
I keep my gaze strictly on them as Dia pours two glasses of wine and hands me one. I accept it with a thanks. Dia is quick to notice my focus is elsewhere and follows my gaze to the guys.
“Gee, who took a shit in TJ’s cereal?” She pokes fun at the angry expression on his face.
I give a small laugh. “What do you think they’re talking about?”
“They’re fighting over you, duh ! Probably challenging each other to a duel where they’ll fight to the death for you.”
Aaron seems to be finished speaking his piece because he shakes his head and turns to leave. It’s at that exact same time that TJ’s eyes find mine across the room.
His face lights up at the sight of me, and the sweetest smile forms on his lips.
Chance’s voice cuts through the air. “Ladies!”
I flip my head to see Chance walking toward us. His greeting captures Aaron’s attention, causing him to notice us standing by the table. The next thing I know, he’s coming over, too.
TJ witnesses the whole thing, watching as Aaron makes a beeline for us. Then, without giving me another glance, he directs his gaze to the floor and disappears into the crowd.
What the hell was that?
Did he really just run the other away?
“Glad you could make it.” Chance stops before us, and guilt immediately consumes me.
Poor guy’s got a concussion. The doctors kept him for a few days, and they’re confident he’ll make a full recovery, but last I heard, he had to make arrangements to push back his midterms. He couldn’t study due to the persistent headaches and dizziness. It could’ve been worse, but it also could’ve been much better. And it’s all because he agreed to help us. I feel horrible about it.
“Hey, guys,” Aaron says, and I have to control myself, otherwise I’ll be bombarding him with questions about the argument I saw.
I shift my focus over to Chance. “How are you? Have your headaches gotten any better? I never got the chance to thank you for what you did. I’m so sorry?—”
Chance interrupts me. “Lacey, it’s fine, really. You didn’t do this. We’re good.”
My shoulders release all tension.
“I’m sorry anyway. And if there’s anything I can do, just let me know.”
“You could start by coming to my dad’s cabin this weekend. My old man agreed to let us use it. We’d leave tomorrow. You’re all invited.”
How do I politely tell him that I have plans this week? And how do I cover up the fact that those plans are sleeping ?
“I thought since I arranged for my midterms to be delayed, you could help me with my studies like that time you tutored me. I can’t seem to focus these days, and I need the help. What do you say? There’s a hot tub.” He gives me the puppy eyes.
Well… I can hardly say no, now, can I?
He’s struggling to keep up with school because he got injured trying to protect my sister. Of course I’m going to tutor him. How could I not?
I’ll have to ask my neighbor to watch my siblings for the weekend. That or ask her to watch them on Saturday and get a babysitter on Sunday.
“Sure, I’ll be happy to.”
“Really? Thanks, Lacey. You’re the best. I’ll bring my books, and we can study Sunday morning. I’ll add you to the group chat for the details.”
With that, he walks off.
“Did you know about this cabin thing?” I ask Dia.
She nods. “He invited me and Finn yesterday.”
“And is everybody going?”
“Yeah, I think so. Last I heard, it was going to be Xavier, Aveena, Theo, TJ, and?—”
“Me.” Aaron reminds us of his presence.
Shit.
You mean to tell me I’m going to be stuck in a cabin in the woods with Aaron and TJ—the two of whom clearly aren’t getting along right now—for the entire weekend?
What the hell did I just get myself into?