“Almost,” I clarify. “Al-most. But I’m here! I’m here and I thought we were going to have this amazing time, just the four of us! I thought the universe really aligned for us to make this happen.”
“And it did,” Roxie added. “But it also aligned for Mike, Zayne, and Ash to join us.”
I seriously want to cry, or—at the very least—be wildly offended.
“Liv, you’ve got this amazing career, and we are all so proud of you,” Loren says, reaching for my hand and squeezing it—a gesture I usually take comfort in, but now it feels like some sort of move to placate me. “Every time you release another book, we all celebrate and say how much we wish you were here with us.”
“But…?”
Because there’s always a but.
“But…” Vanessa says, “you aren’t here with us. You live on the other side of the country, and…you know…life goes on. We’re not kids anymore and other than you and Ash, the rest of us hang out all the time.”
“Ash comes around whenever he’s not traveling for work,” Loren corrects, but it’s not the least bit helpful.
So, Vanessa goes on. “This isn’t a bad thing, and it’s not going to change our time here together. We’re not all joined at the hip and the guys have an agenda of their own that doesn’t involve us, and vice versa. I get that you don’t know Ash, but he’s genuinely a sweet guy.”
“At first I thought they were bringing him here to set me up with him,” Roxie explains with a small laugh. “But I am so not ready to date anyone. I’m kind of okay with being alone and not dealing with anyone else’s bullshit.”
“Except the dogs,” Loren mumbles.
“Hey, my dogs are my babies,” Roxie counters. “They are my emotional support animals, and they are wonderful. You’re barely going to even know they’re here.”
I look at Vanessa and Loren and can already tell they’re not buying it.
Rather than focus on that issue, I go back to the previous one. “So…who is this Ash person?” I pause as Roxie’s comment suddenly registers. “Wait…are you setting me up with this guy?”
Vanessa sighs loudly. “No one is getting set up, okay? Jeez, everyone needs to unclench. It’s not like that. This is strictly about a group of friends hanging out together. There are no ulterior motives.”
She sounds sincere, but I’m still not fully convinced.
“Okay, fine. Let’s just say you’re telling the truth.” My inner bitch is definitely coming out. “How do you all know him?”
“He and Mike went to college together,” Loren tells me, still holding my hand. “He also knew Matt. They were roommates in their freshman year. And I’m pretty sure you know him. I mean…you saw him at the funeral. The guy talking to you at the casket?”
The guy talking to me…?
Like a ton of bricks, it hits me.
Mr. Handsome.
The plane. The funeral. And now, my vacation.
Sebastian was Ash.
Fuck my life.
My stomach clenches and I feel like I want to throw up. I glance around wildly, but there’s no escape. I didn’t drive here, so I can’t just grab my luggage and leave. I’m stuck.
Worse, if I make a scene and demand to leave, I’m pretty sure I’ll never see my friends again.
Van’s words hurt.
You aren’t here with us.
The rest of us hang out all the time.
Yeah, I’m the outsider now, and I can’t even be mad about it, no matter how much I want to be.
