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ChapterFive

“What?” Lorren nearly screamed, eyes wide as she sat up on the couch.

The friend meeting that Sevyn called after her disastrous date, if you could call it that, wasn’t heading in the direction she anticipated. She, Lorren, and Avery were supposed to be holed up in Sevyn’s living room, admiring the ornate Christmas decorations while sharing a bowl of popcorn and watching Christmas movies.

Instead, the topic of discussion had centered on the night she wished she could forget.

“You ended up on a date with Dallas?” Avery asked for the fifth time. It was the only thing she’d said since Sevyn revealed the previous night’s events.

Groaning, Sevyn dropped her head into her hands, wishing that she felt better about her behavior at dinner. Things started so well. But Dallas never failed to make a comment that would trigger her into an emotional spiral that resulted in an argument.

She wished that she could turn off her feelings for him. Maybe then they could get to a space of normalcy.

Lorren grabbed a pillow from the couch, placing it onto her lap before speaking again. “I’m sorry, but this entire thing is just too crazy for me. And your ass is crazy too. How many times can you get into an argument with that man over the same damn thing?”

“I know, I know,” Sevyn murmured, dragging a hand through her hair. “I hate that I get so wrapped up in the past but I can’t help it. It pisses me off so badly that Dallas acts like I’m supposed to magically forget the way that he made me feel.”

“It was indeed some bullshit. But, he was trying to protect you, Sev,” Lor said gently. “Dallas would have never purposely hurt your feelings and you know that.”

“The worst things have been done with the best intentions.”

“Since we’re out here quoting shit, the definition of insanity is repeating the same thing expecting different results. Or something like that. Hell, I don’t know. Y’all driving me crazy at this point.”

“You ended up on a date with Dallas?”

“Avery!” Lorren snapped her neck in the youngest of their gang’s direction. “Please catch up with the rest of the conversation and help me get through to this thick-headed ass girl. I only have about ten percent of gentleness left in me before I start reading her for filth.”

Sevyn pouted, “Gee, thanks, Lorren.”

“You’re welcome, friend.”

Flipping her the bird, Sevyn reached for the remote resting a few feet away from her. “Whatever. Anyway, there’s nothing left to talk about. The conversation is over.”

Lorren yanked the blanket away from Sevyn, tossing it to the side. “Seriously, Sev? Are we going to act like your feelings for him aren’t still a thing?”

“Are we going to pretend as if they matter to him?”

“Okay, okay, we all know what happened when you took the leap and told him how you felt. We’ve also had to deal with the fallout of his decision ever since. Something has to give, Sev. This situation isn’t necessarily about us but it still affects us when you and Dal can’t manage to get along for five minutes in a group setting.”

“I agree,” Avery said, crossing her legs.

Sevyn’s eyes went wide. “Oh, I know you of all people aren’t talking.”

“Aht, aht,” Lorren chimed in. “Avery isn’t the topic of discussion right now. You are. Come on, Sev. We’ve all been a unit since middle school.” Pausing, she glanced over at Avery. “Well, most of us. Then there were those who were in daycare.”

“Bitch, fuck you.”

Sevyn didn’t bat an eye at Lorren and Avery’s bickering. She’d learned a long time ago that it was the way they expressed their love for one another.

Reclaiming her blanket, Sevyn spread it out over her body. “So, because we’ve known each other forever, I’m supposed to forget everything?”

Lorren released an exasperated huff, dragging a hand down her face. “Nobody said that. I’ll be the first to agree that Dallas ain’t perfect but I’m not going to sit back and pretend as if I don’t know that he loves you. And no matter how much of a bitch you are to him, that doesn’t waver.”

“That’s not my problem. I’m not a toy that he gets to pull off the shelf when he’s in the mood to play.”

Avery cleared her throat, curling up on the end of the sectional she’d chosen to cuddle up on. “I think that you’re so focused on making sure your feelings are validated, that you can’t see past not getting what you wanted when you wanted it.”

“Feelings that Dallas has acknowledged time and time again,” Lorren added. “He’s apologized, Sev. On multiple occasions. Life is too short for you to be holding on to something simply for the sake of holding a grudge.”