Page 73 of Never Not Friends

There are approximately three different variations of the story I could tell him right now that would explain everything that’s happened between us this year. I know, because I’ve rehearsed them all in my head a million times.

I say none of them, because saying them out loud feels pointless when he’s dating Juliet.

My silence forces his head to drop. “Like, how did we go from talking every day to pretending we don’t know each other? I just thought we’d at least still be friends.”

His words deepen the ache in my heart.

“We’re still friends.”

“Really?”

“I mean, you’re with Juliet now, so you don’t really need me as a friend.”

“But I want you as a friend.”

I don’t say anything right away because how do I explain that being his friend means watching him hold hands with Juliet in the hallway. Sitting near them at lunch. Listening to my best friend tell me about kissing the boy I still love.

And I can’t tell him any of that without hurting Juliet.

“Don’t you want to be friends still?” he asks.

It’s complicated.

What I want doesn’t seem to matter anymore.

But would it really betray Juliet’s friendship if I told Vinny why I broke up with him? Not to get him back. Just to clear the air between us.

“I do owe you an explanation,” I say.

His brows dip. “For what?”

“For why things ended between us.”

He glances away, hurt in his words. “I mean, I know you didn’t like me anymore.”

“Vinny, that’s not⁠—”

The door suddenly swings open. Dan the butcher stands there, blinking at us. “How long have you been stuck in here?”

The words I was about to say drop off.

Dan frowns. “You two better get back to work.” Dan frowns. “Emma, they’ve been calling your name to help with checkout up front.”

I glance at Vinny. So much left unsaid between us. But maybe it’s for the best. Maybe me telling him everything would’ve ruined more than it helped.

I grab the crate of milk and take my escape, walking out of the tiny room.

For months, I thought if I avoided Vinny long enough, I’d eventually stop loving him. Ten minutes locked in a refrigerator proves I haven’t stopped loving him at all. I’ve just gotten really good at pretending I don’t.

And all it’s doing is teaching Vinny how to live without me.

EMMA

I’m not gonna lie.

I was hoping Shane would be terrible.

Not like tie-me-up-and-put-me-in-the-back-of-his-trunk terrible.