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“Don’tapologize,” Sloane says firmly. “Those comments are clearly from an impotent, bitter ex and his lackeys.”

“He’s hardly even an ex. But he’s definitely bitter.”

“I’m so glad you got out of that toxic group,” Kashvi says. Her eyes shine with rage.

Mark takes a swig from his two-liter of Mountain Dew. “They’re jealous that their group will never be as amazing as we are. Ignore them.”

“Absolutely. And you don’t have to worry about anythinglike that ever happening with us,” Sanjiv assures me, and looks to Mark and Logan for confirmation. “This is exactly why we have our group set up the way we do—so none of this becomes an issue.”

Mark burps as if that helps to make his point. “I love not caring how I look or act around you. I’m not worried about impressing any of you.”

“That’s good, because you definitely aren’t,” Kashvi says, and everyone laughs. “But I’ll agree that I like keeping this one part of life simple.”

Logan’s gaze burns into the side of my face. I can feel it as easily as if he was touching me, but I can’t look at him.

“I don’t know,” I say. My voice is weak. “Caden turned out to be a jerk, but it’s not always like that. I just had bad luck with him.”

“I don’t know, this one can be a jerk sometimes,” Kashvi jokes, and wiggles her twin’s arm. He groans in response.

“The important thing is that we have a group where everyone’s comfortable enough to hang out and role-play without being self-conscious,” Logan says. I play with one of my dice bracelets to keep my eyes from his. “Whether people are dating or friends doesn’t matter—the end of any relationship can be hard.”

“Sure, but datingalwaysmakes stuff worse. All those feelings and hormones and jealousy,” Sloane argues with a disgusted eye roll.

“None of which we have to worry about, thank god. I’m hungry.” Sanjiv pushes his chair out from the table like the conversation is over. “Quinn, forget it ever happened.”

Mark stands and Kashvi follows suit. They start chattingaboutSpider-Manmovies again like it’s the most important thing happening in the world, and I glance around the table anxiously. Is that it? We’re done with the conversation?

There’s so much more I want to say—so many more arguments I want to give them for why dating someone at the gaming table doesn’t have to be a disaster—but they’ve moved on. If anything, the chat comments have only further convinced them that their original stance was correct. Caden and Paige couldn’t have chosen a worse time to pop back into my life.

“I’m feeling nostalgic,” Sanjiv announces. “Who wants to playMario Kart?”

Mark hoots and pushes his chair back so fast it flips over.

“Calm down, killer,” Sloane says. “And save me a controller.”

I finally let myself look at Logan and find his eyes are already on me. His jaw clenches.

“Do you have to go?” he asks me quietly.

I can tell he wants to talk, but there’s nothing more to say. I want him, but I can’t give up this group. And the more I talk about it, the more it’s going to break my heart.

“I should go home.”

“Then I’ll drive you.”

“I drove myself,” I reply. “But thanks.”

I pack my things up quickly and shove them into the bag. I need to get out of here and spend a few hours rotting my brain with reality TV.

I say some quick goodbyes and take the basement steps two at a time. Footsteps run up behind me as I get to the first floor, and I gather my strength to face him.

“There’s nothing more—”

But it’s not Logan who’s running up behind me; it’s Kashvi.

“Hey, can we talk before you leave?” she asks.

“Um, of course.”