Chapter 7
seven
SIXTEEN YEARS AGO
I stalk down the hall and into my new room. Pacing back and forth, I run both hands through my hair, tugging at the roots until it hurts.
What the hell was I thinking going into Lizzy’s room like that? Speaking to her the way I did? Acting as if nothing’s changed. Like I haven’t spent the last five years pretending she didn’t exist.
Collapsing onto the bed, I turn onto my side and stare out the window. My chest is so tight it’s hard to breathe.
Seeing Lizzy walk into the living room earlier today nearly knocked me on my ass. The cute, skinny girl with wild black hair is gone. In her place is a young woman with curves and cleavage. She’s so beautiful, it physically hurts to look at her.
Those big green eyes—the same ones that used to light up whenever she saw me—now look at me with nothing but contempt. And when she called me Rowan instead of Ro? A knife to the heart would’ve hurt less.
As long as I can remember she’s always called me Ro. Unless she’s mad at me. Which she most definitely is. And I don’t blame her.
“Fuck,” I mutter-growl, pressing the heels of my hands against my eyes in aggravation.
I knew coming back would be hard. I just didn’t realize how hard it would actually be.
A knock at the door startles me out of my brooding.
“Come in.”
I turn away from the window to see Logan pop his head in, grinning. “Hey, man. Mom wants to know if you need anything before they go to bed.”
“Nah, I’m good. Thanks.”
He steps inside and closes the door. “So... I saw you coming out of Lizzy’s room.”
Shit.
“I was just saying hi.”
He leans against the wall, arms crossed. “Look, I know it’s weird, all of us together again. But Lizzy’s been through a lot since you left.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t,” Logan says, voice hardening slightly. “When you stopped talking to her, she went full-on goth. Black clothes, dark makeup, the works. Started getting into fights at school. Mom and Dad had to send her to therapy.”
My stomach twists with guilt. “I had no idea.”
“How could you? You never asked about her.” He sighs, running a hand through his hair.
“Look, I get it. We were just kids. But Lizzy took it hard after you left. The fact you never wanted to talk to her. Always changing the subject or ending the call when I tried bringing her up...” He trails off, shaking his head. “Just... be careful with her, okay?”
“I hear you,” I mutter, finding it hard not to feel like the world’s biggest asshole.
Eyes narrowing, Logan studies me for a moment before he speaks again. “One more thing.”
I brace myself. “What?”
“Stay away from her.”
“Kinda hard to do that when we’re living in the same house my friend.”
“You know exactly what I mean.” His expression turns serious, all traces of easygoing Logan vanishing in an instant.
“I know you, Rowan. Don’t think for a second I’ve forgotten about all the girls you bragged about banging over there.
I saw how you were looking at her.” He sighs.
“I’ve always known how you felt about her. ”
Heat rushes to my face. Am I that obvious?
“She’s not one of your conquests,” he continues. “She’s my sister. And I don’t want to see her get hurt.”
“I would never—”
“Promise me,” he interrupts. “Promise me you’ll keep your hands to yourself. Being her friend is fine as long as you take it slow. Anything more than that? Off-limits.”
I want to argue, tell him he’s overreacting, but the fierce protectiveness in his eyes stops me cold.
Logan and I have known each other our whole lives. Hell, all three of us used to take baths together. He’s the same guy who’s stood by me through thick and thin. And now he’s asking me to stay away from the one person I still care about more than anyone else?
“Fine,” I sigh. My next words taste bitter on my tongue. “I promise.”
Relief washes over Logan’s face as his shoulders relax. “Thanks, man. I just don’t want things to get messy, you know? We’ve got a little over six months until graduation. Then we’re both outta here.”
Right. Six months. I can keep my distance for six months. Talk to Lizzy only when necessary. How hard can it be?
As it turns out, keeping that promise is a lot harder than I ever thought it could be.
After Logan leaves, I stare out the window at the treehouse and cringe. I should go apologize to her first. I never should’ve spoken to her the way I did.
Raking my hands through my hair with a sigh, I trudge back down the hall to Lizzy’s room.