Page 19 of Exes That Puck (The Honey Badger Puckers #4)

My phone buzzes with a picture from Lola. My stomach plummets when I see Zeke sitting across from a brunette at what looks like a coffee shop. The girl is leaning forward, talking animatedly, and he’s listening with that focused expression I know so well.

Lola:I see Zeke with a girl right now.

I stare at the photo, heart hammering, until I recognize the familiar slope of her nose, the way she’s slouching.

Kara:That’s his sister Ava.

Lola:Thank God. I was about to storm over and ring his neck.

Kara: I’ve hooked up with him twice without texting you about it. Sorry.

Lola: When?

Kara:Last time was the other morning.

Lola: Morning sex?

Kara: Ugh. I know.

Kara:We might have said I love you.

Lola: What!

Kara: Like three times.

Lola:Shit! Well this party at Wolf Boy’s is going to be insane. You need to look hot.

I set my phone down and stare at my textbook, the words blurring together. Ava has been with her boyfriend Willy for a while. If she’s here unexpectedly, something’s wrong.

Kara:I still need to tell Payton. I feel so bad, but I don’t feel like dealing with the lectures.

Lola:Just tell her. It’s not a big deal.

Lola:You’re going to dress hot as hell and have him begging for you on Saturday.

Kara:Should I text him to make sure everything’s okay with his sister? Ava has a boyfriend she’s had forever, so if they just broke up, that’s not good.

Lola:Do what you want.

Lola:I still can’t get over morning sex.

Kara:Should I text him? See how much he tells me?

Lola:Yeah, see if he’ll tell you the truth. See if he’s really changed.

I put my phone face-down and force myself to finish two chapters of reading. My reward will be texting Zeke. Two hours later, I pick up my phone to find an encouraging message from Lola waiting. I text Zeke.

Kara: Tonight?

Three dots appear, then disappear. I stare at the screen, waiting.

An hour passes before my phone finally buzzes.

Zeke: Ava’s staying here.

Zeke:She doesn’t know we’re broken up, so come over if you want to.

I screenshot the messages and send it to Lola immediately.

Kara:He didn’t tell his sister that we broke up.

Lola:Oh, you should go over there.

Kara:I can’t lie to his sister.

Lola:Of course you can.

Kara:What if I go there and tell her the truth? And she’ll hate him too.

Lola:Haha idk but be careful.

I open up Zeke’s messages, and I start typing.

Kara:I just finished homework. Be there soon.

The Uber ride feels endless. Ava has always intimidated me. Not because she’s mean, but because she’s so confident, so sure of herself. She knows what she wants and goes after it without apology. Everything I wish I could be.

When I walk through the side door, I find her on the couch, tears streaming down her face. The sight stops me cold.

“Kara,” she says, opening her arms wide.

I’m looking at my reflection. The same puffy eyes, the same defeated slump in her shoulders. I glance at Zeke, who looks helpless and defeated himself.

“What’s going on?” I ask, moving toward her.

She pulls me into a tight hug, and I feel her tears soak through my shirt. “Willy and I broke up, and it’s for good. It’s been over for a long time, but it’s just... really fucking hard.”

When she starts sobbing, the parallel hits me like a punch. It’s almost darkly funny, like this is some sick joke.

“I know how you feel,” I say, rubbing her back.

She pulls away, wiping her nose with her sleeve. “What do you mean?”

I look at Zeke, and he’s watching me cautiously. I admit, “I broke up with Zeke a few months ago.”

“A few months ago!” She whips around to stare at her brother. “You fucking liar!”

Zeke runs his hands through his hair. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to be upset.”

“Months, Zeke? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” She looks between us, eyes wide with disbelief. “Why did you guys break up?”

Silence fills the room. Ava’s staring at me expectantly, waiting for an explanation.

“Why did you break up with him?” she presses. “I know my brother isn’t stupid enough to break up with you.”

I look to Zeke, giving him the choice.

He meets my eyes for a moment, then looks at his sister with a blank expression, like he’s mentally checked out. “Because I’m a fucking asshole. I’m controlling, I’m jealous, and we were fighting nonstop. Kara deserves better. She did the right thing by breaking up with me.”

I don’t know why but hearing him say that has my emotions tangled up. Maybe he has changed. I look at him with admiration. I really do love him. He’s admitting all his faults. This is good.

Ava pushes him hard enough that he actually stumbles back a step. “You fucking asshole!”

He’s over six feet tall and solid muscle, but he still flinches from his sister. It’s kind of cute to see how scared he is.

“Do you want to know why I broke up with Willy?” she shouts, hitting his arm. “Because he’s a controlling, jealous fucking dickwad! And I couldn’t handle it anymore. I was fucking suffocating!”

She stands abruptly, grabbing my hand. “Come on, Kara. We’re leaving.”

I look at Zeke, and he looks utterly defeated when he nods.

Confused, I let her pull me toward the door. I call an Uber while she grabs her jacket. Zeke follows us to the front porch, watching silently as we wait for the car.

“I can’t believe this shit,” Ava says, staring back at the house as we drive away. “My brother is an asshole to you? Picking fights? Fuck him, Kare. You deserve better.”

I sigh. “I’m not any better, Ava. I started a lot of our fights. We both have our issues.”

“Yeah, but you left, and that makes you strong.”

My stomach plummets as I shake my head. I can’t pretend that I’m something I’m not. “No, I’m not strong. I’m still sleeping with him.”

Ava turns to stare at me, eyebrows raised. “Don’t be dumb. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Cut him off. He seriously doesn’t deserve you. You’re too good for him.”

I shrug, feeling smaller by the second. “I love your brother.” Too much, but I don’t add that part.

When we get back to my dorm, Payton is on her bed with textbooks spread around her. She looks up as we walk in, taking in Ava’s tear-stained face and my guilty expression.

“Did you know she’s still screwing my dumbass brother?” Ava announces as soon as she sees Payton.

Payton sits up straighter. “I know! I’ve been telling her to stop.”

I sink onto my bed, feeling like the world’s biggest idiot as they both stare at me.

“Seriously, Kara,” Ava continues, settling into Payton’s desk chair like she owns the place.

“You need to cut him off completely. No contact, no sex, nothing. He’s going to keep hurting you.

This shit never it ends. It’s a toxic cycle.

You broke up with him, didn’t you? So you know that not being with him is the smart thing to do! ”

“But he’s been different lately,” I say weakly. “More considerate. Less controlling.”

Both girls give me identical looks of disbelief.

“They always seem different for a little while,” Payton says gently. “That’s part of the cycle.”

“Willy was ‘different’ too,” Ava adds, making air quotes out of pure anger. “For about two weeks before he went right back to being a jealous asshole. It’s who they are, Kare.”

I pull my knees to my chest. “So what am I supposed to do? Just pretend I don’t love him?”

“You’re supposed to love yourself more,” Ava says firmly.

Payton adds, “And there’s this party this weekend.”

Ava continues, “Perfect. You’re going to get dressed up, have fun, and remind yourself that there’s a whole world of guys out there who won’t make you miserable.”

“Wolf Boy’s going to be there,” Payton adds with a small smile. “Maybe you can help me figure out if he’s worth the hype.”

“See? New experiences, new people.” Ava claps her hands together. “Trust me, the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else.”

I bury my face in my knees. “I don’t want to get under someone else.”

“Then don’t,” Ava says, her voice softer now. “But at least stop letting my brother use you as his emotional security blanket. You deserve someone who wants to be with you, not someone who only appreciates you when he’s afraid of losing you.”

The words hit harder than I expect. Because that’s exactly what this feels like. I’m his safety net while he figures out how to be a better person.

“Come on,” Payton says, moving to sit beside me on the bed. “Let’s plan what you’re wearing Saturday. Something that makes you feel good and powerful like you don’t need him.”

“And hot,” Ava adds. “So hot that every guy at that party wishes he could take you home.”

I look between them. These two strong women who both walked away from relationships that were suffocating them. Maybe they’re right. Maybe I need to stop waiting for Zeke to change and start focusing on changing myself.

“Okay,” I say quietly.

Ava shakes her head. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I feel so much better about breaking up with Willy now, it’s kind of funny. I’m seeing it from a third person perspective, and no offense, Kara, but I will not make your mistake.”

I try not to cry, and if they can tell I am on the verge, they don’t mention it because they move to my closet and start looking through my clothes, chatting with each other.

I blink back tears and watch Ava. She really stopped crying the second she found out that her brother is the same type of person she just broke up with.

And I’m left trying to figure out if I should listen to them or my heart.