Page 93 of Jump on Three

His father chuffed. “Good. The last thing you need is a girlfriend. You have other things to concentrate on.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’m not interested in having a girlfriend.” Then, he switched to English. “I have to ride with my dad to the airport. See you later.”

They walked around me while I stood frozen, the Noro yarn between my fingers the only thing I felt. I squeezed it hard, grounding myself in the rich, familiar texture.

My feet finally moved, taking me upstairs to my room. I tossed my bag down, kicked my shoes off, and yanked on my headphones. Curling up in the corner of my bed, my heavy blanket over my shoulders, I let my head fall back against the wall as rhythmic beats poured into my ears.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

I had known I wasn’t his girlfriend, but to hear him confirm it to his dad had jabbed at my tenderest parts. He couldn’t even admit to being my friend. I was just the weird girl who followed him around. And it hurt more that it was true. I had followed him all the way to LA to see what he was up to because he wouldn’t tell me. Doing that was weird.

Why would he want me to meet his father?

He hadn’t, and it made perfect sense.

I pulled the blanket tighter around my shoulders and rocked my spine against the wall, counting each vertebra slamming into the drywall one by one. Then I rubbed my toes together, followed by my fingers. I did this again and again until my heart was no longer lodged in my throat and I was back inside my skin.

My heart just ached.

I did not love Ivan, but I trusted him. From past experience, I knew better than to trust another boy or myself to pick them. My last sort of boyfriend had been a horrific person. I’d been aware he wasn’t great, but I’d let myself be with him because he’d given me attention and kissed well.

I really had thought Ivan was different. He wasn’t, though. He was just like all the others. What he said behind closed doors did not matter. It was what he said and did in the light that was true.

I walked into the dining hall like a zombie. Instead of brains, though, I was craving a scone and more sleep since I’d barely gotten any last night.

The rest of the day I had spent in the history department’s library. No one ever went there, and it wasn’t my preferred location, but there was a spot where I could tuck myself away and no one would bother me. I had gotten ahead of schoolwork, done some knitting, and listened to music.

Ivan had texted, but I just…could not deal with him.

He didn’t know anything was wrong, and I didn’t want to think how I would explain what I’d overheard and how it had made me feel. Or if I wanted to.

Therefore, I gave him an excuse, and he’d kindly left me alone the rest of the day. The ensuing fifteen hours, I had gained no clarity. Perhaps after I ate my scone.

Ryan managed to slide into the bakery line ahead of me.

“Good morning, sunshine,” he chirped.

“Good morning.” Oh, those good manners never left me, even when I was exhausted.

“Are you ordering a scone today?”

“Yes.”

“Me too.” He bounced on his toes. “You got me hooked on them. The chocolate chip ones really don’t have anything on the cranberry orange. Those are the most legit.”

Craning my neck, I scanned the case, breathing a sigh of relief at seeing several of the kind I liked. Unless Ryan decided to be an immense asshole and take them all, I would have no trouble getting one.

When it was Ryan’s turn, he ordered two scones. I simply thought he was extra hungry until he spun around and held one out to me, offering a dazzling smile.

“For you, Evelyn.”

I took it, murmuring a thank-you.

Not put off by my bad mood, he followed me with his scone while I filled up a drink cup and grabbed an apple, chatting away about his parents coming to visit over the past weekend. They were from Chicago, so they enjoyed getting away from the cold weather. I headed toward my table while he talked. When we got there, instead of breaking off to go to his usual table, he took the empty seat beside mine.

Ivan’s seat.

Rhys and Delilah hadn’t shown up yet, but Freddie was there. He raised an eyebrow at Ryan.