“On vacation?” A vacation would be nice. I saw the resort he booked and—
“Home.”
“Home?” I gasp as a laugh rushes from my lungs. “To your parents’ place?”
“Yeah. Their birthdays are coming up and I think it will make them—Mom—happy to see you.”
And everything he does, he does to make her happy.
“What do they know about us?”
“That we’re dating.”
“You didn’t tell them it was fake?”
Reed’s face contorts as he grimaces. “I couldn’t. She’d mention it to my brother and he’d broadcast it to the media.”
“Shit.”
“Yep.”
“He really deserves an ass kicking.”
“Believe me, I know.”
“When are their birthdays?” I hide my concern. While I want to be able to support Reed, I don’t know my schedule for the foreseeable future; I don’t know whenReckless Desireis filming. And on top of that, I think this is out of my depth. Jokingly threatening his brother is one thing, but meeting the parents and trying to help is another thing entirely.
“Their birthdays aren’t until early July. I’m only asking now because if I mention it to Mom, it might lift her spirits for a while.”
Jesus. “You know I’d love to, but by then, you’ll hopefully have sorted things out with Bria. Shouldn’t she go with you? I’ll bet she’s been before and—”
Reed frowns, cutting me off, making me feel awkward enough to glance away.
“Even if Bria and Iwerebest friends again, I wantyouto come.Ourfriendship has nothing to do with mine and Bria’s.”
“Reed, it haseverythingto do with that. I think you should talk to her. I think you both need to get everything off yourchests, including telling her how you feel.” I have no idea why I’m bringing this up now, but the word vomit is happening and I can’t seem to stop.
“I’ve tried calling her back. Just like you asked. But she's no longer answering.”
“Because you ignored her. Tryharder.”
“Why are you pushing this?”
Good freaking question.“It’s a big deal, Reed. She was your best friend foryears.”
“Even so, I don’t think talking is going to help. I doubt our friendship will ever be the same.”
Reed runs a hand through his hair with a sigh, and my stomach swirls with guilt. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault, Hayls. It was changinglongbefore I got myself a girlfriend.”
I smile but he’s wrong. “What about before we were friends? It was good before that, right?”
“Was it?” Reed’s forehead creases and he frowns again. “Was it good for me to have feelings for her and keep it to myself, essentially lying about our friendship?”
“She had to know and—”
“If shedidknow, was it good for her to act like shedidn’t?”
