Page 37 of Only Ever You

“Liking someone as a friend isn’t the same as wanting to kiss them. You’re great, Sienna, but you’re not the person I want like that.”

“Okay,” she says, nodding. But when she looks up again, her expression is filled with what I swear is determination. “I guess it’s pointless to invite you to the Harvest Ball then, huh? I hoped we could go together.”

I sigh. “I can’t go with you.”

With any luck, I can convince Isla to go with me. If not, then I’ll go with the guys.

“Not the answer I hoped for,” she murmurs, “but I get it.”

As she walks away, I drag my attention back to the sunbeds. It takes effort. That conversation took a lot out of me. This time, when I zero in on the people sitting over there, my heart sinks.

Asher is no longer there; it’s only Isla and Cade. They sit close, watching something on her phone, both smiling. Dammit.

This is the worst birthday ever.

CHAPTER TEN

that’s not fair

ISLA

Fifteen years old

Legs aching, I sit on the floor in the school library, back pressed to the bookshelf. This morning’s practice hit me harder than usual. It’s always like this when I’m on my period. I get tired more quickly, and everything hurts more.

“Hey.” Sienna appears out of nowhere, sliding to the floor beside me. “What are you doing here?”

“Hi. I got to school a little early after practice, so I came here to read for English class. It’s quiet. Exactly what I need.”

“Yeah, it’s hard to find a quiet place in this school.” She catches a lock of her hair between her fingers. “How have you been? We didn’t really talk at Michael’s party on Saturday.”

“I’m fine. A bit overwhelmed with school and skating at the moment.” I shrug. “How are you? Did you have a good time at the party?”

She sighs dreamily. “Yeah. The party turned out even better than I’d hoped.”

“Yeah, Michael’s parties are always a blast.”

“So…the Harvest Ball.” She shifts and clears her throat. “Are you going?”

“I’m not sure. I need to talk to Michael first.” I trace my finger over the spine of the book. “And I don’t know how easy that will be. I can’t remember the last time we talked normally.”

Her eyes flash, her brows knitting together. Then, a small smile pulls at her lips. “Oh,” she says softly, like she feels bad for me. “Well, I don’t think asking him is a good idea.”

“Why not?”

She nibbles on her bottom lip, averting her gaze. “Because he already asked me.”

An icy sensation sweeps down my spine. “You?”

“Yeah, at his party.” She wrings her hands, her cheeks going pink. “I figured you knew, since the two of you are so close.”

My chest aches, and it feels impossible to breathe. “I…I didn’t know,” I choke out.

I’ve been avoiding him since he kissed Sienna and didn’t tell me, but it’s more than that. The stress of deciding what to do about my skating career has gotten to me, making it hard to sleep and putting most of my other concerns on the back burner.

“Sorry.” She pats my hand. “After Jones’ party—and you know, our kiss—people wouldn’t stop talking about us. Saying how cute we looked together, how perfect we’d be. I think it finally got to him. Sometimes, guys don’t realize what’s right in front of them until someone else points it out.”

I hold my breath. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.