40. Ava
Chapter Forty
Ava
Buzzing doubts
We settled in with an impressive spread of appetizers. I watched the easy rhythm of their banter, the way conversations dipped from teasing to serious and back again without effort. It felt good to relax and just enjoy myself.
Until I heard someone say, “Oh, that’s Laney.” My brain snapped to attention.
“Tanner’s ex,” Holly clarified with an eye roll.
I tried to keep my expression neutral. My heart, however, did not cooperate and was banging anxiously against my ribs, while insecurity hummed to life in my thoughts.
“I think she’s trying to make a play for Tanner,” Casey chimed in.
My stomach dropped. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t have all the details,” Holly offered, lowering her voice slightly.
“But apparently she cornered him when he was picking up pizza the other night. Before the guys left for the fire. She vented to a friend about it afterward. Can’t keep anything like that quiet, though.
News travels. I guess whoever she was dating dumped her,” Holly added.
“She can’t afford her place in the city anymore.
Things didn’t exactly pan out the way she imagined. ”
“Oh,” I murmured.
“Don’t you even start worrying,” Holly said firmly, pointing at me. “Tanner is so over her. He’s been over her for years.”
Maisie nodded. “Breakups happen. But you don’t have to say hurtful things.”
I thought about what Tanner had told me, being called boring and beige. I was still here to defend the color beige, but I knew that wasn’t the point. Her words had stung for him.
“Forget about her,” Madison added. “And no matter what happens with you and Tanner, you do not need to worry about him cheating. He is not that guy.”
“I know,” I said quietly. I did know, but knowing something and feeling secure about myself were two very different things.
The thought of his ex trying to reclaim him felt like bees buzzing inside my chest. Doubt buzzing loud and insistent. When we were getting ready to leave, I made my way carefully to the bathroom. Walking still felt miraculous.
I finished up and was washing my hands when the stall door opened behind me. My eyes landed on Laney. She was very pretty and polished, a little glamorous in a way I could never pull off.
She caught my eye in the mirror and smiled brightly. “Oh, hi.”
“Hi,” I replied evenly.
“You’re Ava, right?” I nodded. “I heard you and Tanner were seeing each other.”
Were? Past tense, interesting choice. I made a noncommittal sound.
“Well,” she continued, fluffing her hair lightly, “I’m moving back, so I hope we can be friends.”
I turned slowly to face her. “I’m not sure what you’re getting at.”
“Tanner and I were engaged,” she said, pressing a hand to her chest. “High school sweethearts and all.”
“But you broke up,” I said. The second the words left my mouth, I realized I had revealed my own insecurity.
Her lips curved faintly. “We did. But I’m hoping we’ll have another chance. He’s thinking about it.”
Something inside me snapped. I straightened my shoulders and reached calmly for a paper towel. “You called him beige,” I said flatly as I dried my hands. “You told him he was boring.” Her mouth fell open, and her cheeks flushed pink. “I don’t think we’re going to be friends, Laney.”
I held her gaze for one steady beat before I walked out. The bees were still buzzing inside my chest, but at least she hadn’t seen me flinch.