Page 25 of Exes That Puck (The Honey Badger Puckers #4)

The afternoon lull at Barnes & Noble means I can actually look around the store and pretend I’m working. Then a customer walks to the checkout line, and that’s my cue to get back to work.

“Hey, Kara,” Harry says with a smile that’s a little too bright. “Didn’t know you worked here.”

We had a few classes last year together.

“Just part-time,” I say, taking the Stephen King’s book from him. “The Shining. Classic choice.”

“Yeah, figured I should read something besides textbooks.” He leans against the counter. “You into horror?”

I scan the barcode, keeping things professional but friendly. “Some of it. King’s a really good writer, so I’ve read it.”

“Maybe you could recommend something else sometime?” He’s definitely flirting now, which is harmless enough but makes me slightly uncomfortable.

I nod. “Yeah. Of course.”

The door opens and I saw, “Welcome to Barnes and… Noble.”

Zeke walks in with Ava. He looks at Harry and then back at me. My heart sinks into my stomach. Ava pulls her brother towards the magazines, but I can tell he’s clocking the interaction. My stomach tightens reflexively. This used to be the kind of moment that triggered fights.

Harry leans closer. “Maybe we could read something together. Something you haven’t read yet.”

The receipt starts to print, so I hand it over.

“Enjoy the book,” I say, handing him his receipt. But he doesn’t take the hint.

“Are you in a book club or anything? I’d love to talk about this after I read it.”

I’m aware of Zeke in my peripheral vision, but he’s not storming over or making a scene. He’s just… waiting. Studying a display of staff picks now like he’s genuinely interested.

“I’m pretty busy with work and school,” I tell Harry gently. “But there are some great online forums if you want to discuss King’s work.”

He finally gets the hint and leaves with a disappointed but polite goodbye.

When my break comes fifteen minutes later, I walk over to where Zeke and Ava are sitting in the café area with drinks.

“Mind if I join you for a few minutes?” I say.

“Please,” Ava says, scooting over to make room. She looks better today. Less puffy-eyed, more like herself.

“What are we rating?” I ask, settling beside them.

“Seasonal drinks,” Zeke says, pushing a pumpkin spice latte toward me. “Ava thinks anything pumpkin-flavored is a scam.”

“It tastes like candles,” Ava insists. “Three out of ten, and that’s being generous.”

I take a sip and consider. “Six. It’s not great coffee, but it tastes like fall.”

“See?” Zeke grins. “Reasonable.”

“What did you give it?” I ask him.

“Seven. I’m easy to please.”

We spend the rest of my break debating the merits of various holiday drinks. Ava is civil, even warm at moments, though there’s still a subdued quality to her that wasn’t there before. The conversation flows easily, and I find myself relaxing in a way I haven’t around Zeke in public for months.

After work, I text him while walking to my car.

Kara:Thanks for not... you know

Zeke: Proud of me?

I send back the pinching fingers emoji, and he responds with a laughing face.

Back in the dorm, Payton’s spread across her bed with textbooks and highlighters everywhere.

“How was work?” she asks without looking up.

“Good. Quiet.” I drop my bag and stretch. “What’s all this?”

“Studying. But also, Tori has a date tonight and asked me and Emma to spy on them in case she needs to bail.” She grins. “Want to come be creepy with us?”

I laugh. “That sounds like fun but no. I had work, and I have so much homework.”

“You’re no fun anymore.” But she’s smiling as she says it. “You know what though? You seem happy lately. Like, actually happy, not just pretending. So I’m happy for you, Kare bear.”

I snicker at the nickname. “Thanks, Pay bae. That means a lot.”

She smiles, turning back to her work. “Now if only I could find the answer to this question. Argh! It’s wracking my brain.”

My phone buzzes with a text from Ava.

Ava:Come over for dinner tonight. I’m making Zeke cook, and he’s horrible at it.

Kara: Count me in.

I open my laptop and knock out a few assignments. Then I grab my jacket and head over.

Zeke’s house smells like garlic and something burning when I arrive. I find him in the kitchen, frowning at a pot of what looks like very sad pasta.

“Pinterest sucks,” he says by way of greeting.

“What was it supposed to be?”

“Lemon garlic pasta with herbs. Simple, they said. Foolproof, they said.”

Ava appears from the living room. “Sadness and disappointment.”

Zeke offers me a forkful, and I open my mouth for him.

“It’s not that bad,” I say, but I have to work to keep my expression neutral.

Westley emerges from his room, takes a bite, and looks at Zeke like he’s crazy. He shakes his head and then disappears down the hall.

“We’re ordering pizza,” Ava announces.

While we wait for food, Zeke does all the dishes. I help dry while Ava controls the music from the couch. Ava is telling us everything that’s going on with her best friend, and I’m so relieved that I’m not the only one with drama.

After pizza, we settle on the couch to watch a movie. I end up sitting between them, Ava curled up on my left, Zeke on my right. I notice how he waits for me to settle before adjusting his position, how he doesn’t automatically put his arm around me or pull me closer.

Halfway through the movie, Ava turns to me.

“I owe you an apology,” she says quietly. “I was a complete bitch the other night. You didn’t deserve that.”

“Ava—”

“I was hurt and angry, and I took it out on you when you were just trying to be kind to me.” She looks down at her hands. “I know you care about my brother, and I know he cares about you. I shouldn’t have tried to sabotage that just because I’m bitter about my own relationship.”

“You were protecting me,” I say. “I get it.”

“Maybe. But mostly I was being a brat.” She looks between me and Zeke. “I can see you two are trying to do things differently. I should support that instead of being a roadblock.”

As the evening winds down, I can’t help but imagine Zeke and Ava as teenagers—him probably protective and slightly overbearing, her fierce and stubborn, both of them loyal to a fault. There’s an ease between them that speaks to years of inside jokes and sibling love.

I’m also acutely aware that having Ava around means Zeke and I haven’t had sex since that first night. Part of me wonders if that’s intentional on his part, another way of slowing things down.

When my Uber arrives, Zeke walks me outside. The night air is crisp, carrying the promise of winter.

“Thank you for having me,” I say.

“I’ll stick to sandwiches next time.”

He steps closer, and I can see the question in his eyes. Instead of just taking what he wants, he’s asking permission with his body language. I answer by moving closer myself.

The kiss is deeper than our previous ones, with tongue and heat and the kind of intensity that makes my knees weak. But it doesn’t escalate beyond that.

“Tomorrow, library?” he asks as my Uber pulls up.

“For studying or for making out in the stacks?”

“Both?”

I laugh and get in the car, waving as we drive away.

Back in my dorm room, I replay the bookstore moment while getting ready for bed. Six months ago, that interaction with the flirty customer would have led to a massive fight. Accusations, jealousy, tears. Tonight, Zeke just paused and didn’t react. That feels like a big step forward.

Part of me wonders if he’s holding himself back so tightly that he might eventually explode. But another part recognizes that what I’m seeing might just be growth—real, sustainable change rather than temporary good behavior.

Just as I’m about to put my phone away and try to sleep, I notice a new notification. Payton posted a selfie of her and I in her Stories and tagged me. I repost it and get hearts from all the girls within ten minutes.

Then a name I haven’t thought about in over a year appears in my DMs.

Josh Sampers.

I stare at the notification, my chest tightening. I can practically hear Payton’s voice in my head. Don’t open it. Don’t answer it. I thought you wanted to be with Zeke?

I do, I think back.

But Josh broke up with me right before I met Zeke, and I always wondered why it ended so abruptly. Curiosity wins over caution, and I click it open.

Josh:Long time Kara. How are you?

My fingers hover over the keyboard. This is harmless, right? Just saying hello to an old friend.

Kara:I’m good. How are you?

As soon as I hit send, my phone starts ringing with a video call. From Instagram. My heart jumps into my throat.

I sit up in bed, looking over at Payton’s empty bed and wishing she were here. The phone keeps ringing, and my nerves spike with each buzz. Finally, I answer but keep the camera facing the ceiling.

“Kara?” Josh’s voice comes through the speaker. I can see his face on the screen. The same dark hair, the same crooked smile that used to make my stomach flip.

I grab the phone properly. “Hey, Josh. Why are you Face Timing me?”

He laughs, and the sound brings back memories I’d buried. “Just wanted to see your face. Make sure it’s really you.”

Reluctantly, I flip the camera so he can see me. “It’s me.”

“There she is.” His smile widens. “How are you?”

“I’m good. How are you?” I repeat, suddenly self-conscious about my messy hair and lack of makeup.

He leans back in what looks like the driver’s seat of his car. “Good. I just saw your post, saw your face, and wanted to say hi.”

“Hi,” I say lamely.

He laughs. “Yeah, uh... sorry this is more awkward than I imagined. It’s not like we’re bumping into each other around campus anymore.”

“Yeah.”

“You’re doing good though?”

“Yeah,” I mutter.

“Still dating that hockey player?” he asks.

The question catches me off guard. “No. No, I broke up with him.” Technically true, even if we’re dating again. “What about you? Still with...” I trail off, not wanting to say her name.

“No. She broke up with me. Said I was too much.”

I raise my eyebrows, not entirely disagreeing with that assessment.

“You agree with her?” he asks, reading my expression.

“I mean... I don’t know. No comment. You broke up with me, remember?”

He stares at me through the screen, his expression growing more serious. “Why did I do that again?”

I roll my eyes. “Wow, that’s how little it meant to you? You can’t even remember?”

“Nah, I remember, Kare. You wanted more, and I couldn’t give it to you.”

The old nickname sends an unwelcome flutter through my chest. “So why are you calling me now?”

He shakes his head. “I just wanted to say hi.”

“Oh…kay.” I perch my lips. “I’m gonna go.”

“Wait… uh, I’ll be in town this weekend. Want to link up?”

The phrase makes my stomach turn slightly. Link up. So casual, so meaningless.

“It’ll be harmless,” he continues. “Just catch up as friends.”

I find myself nodding before I can think it through. “If it’s just as friends, sure.”

“Cool. This weekend then.”

This weekend is in like two days. And Zeke has an away game. “Okay.”

“I’ll message you here. See you later, Kare.”

“Okay. Bye.”

When the call ends, I stare at my phone screen, feeling flustered and confused. Did I just make a massive mistake? I want Zeke—I know I want Zeke—but seeing Josh’s face brought back feelings I thought I’d completely buried.

Twenty minutes later, Payton bursts through the door, immediately launching into details about her spy mission on Tori’s date.

“She ordered the salmon, he got pasta, they split dessert—which is a good sign, right? Sharing food means—” She stops mid-sentence, studying my face. “What’s wrong?”

I shake my head, then change my mind. “Do you remember Josh?”

“Josh?” She thinks for a moment. “You mean your ex? From freshman year?”

“We Face Timed.”

Payton basically screams. “What!”

“It sounds worse than it actually was. He just called to say hi and told me he’ll be in town this weekend. He asked to see me.”

“What!” She screams again. “But I thought you and Zeke were—”

“We are. I mean we’re not.” I run my hands through my hair. “I don’t know why I said yes. I should cancel.”

Payton sits on her bed, facing me fully. “Maybe you shouldn’t cancel. Maybe this will be good for you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, maybe you should see if what you’re feeling with Zeke is real or just... familiar.”

I consider this, my mind spinning. Josh represents the person I was before Zeke—less complicated, less intense.

Being with him was easy in a way that being with Zeke never has been.

But easy doesn’t always mean right, does it?

And what Zeke and I have now feels different from before. Healthier. More intentional.

But what if Payton’s right? What if I’m just falling back into old patterns because they’re comfortable?

“Plus,” Payton continues, “didn’t Zeke date Ava’s best friend from high school?”

I look at her sharply. “What about it?”

She shrugs. “Isn’t her best friend going to want to check in on Ava while she’s here? You know, be supportive during her breakup?”

Jealousy flashes hot and immediate in my chest. I hadn’t thought about that. Of course Ava’s friends would want to see her, support her through this difficult time. And if one of those friends happened to be Zeke’s ex...

I don’t say anything, letting Payton fill the silence with more details about Tori’s date until we finally turn off the lights. But as I lie in the dark, my mind races between two very different possibilities for my weekend, and I’m not sure which one scares me more.