Page 46 of Play Fake

“I know, right? It feels like years since it used to be what—like every day or every other day?”

“So true.”

“Oh wow, you look like you got some sun,” she points to my pink tinged cheeks.

“Yeah, I was out shopping today with a friend and forgot sunscreen.”

“Oh yeah, get anything good?”

“I think so,” I smile at her, but she suddenly looks distracted, her eyes darting over my shoulder.

“So… you love me, right?” She looks at me with sincerity and a hint of worry that I might say no.

“Yes…” I hedge, wondering where this is headed. Usually when Ally asks that it’s because she’s about to do or suggest something crazy she’s going to entangle me in.

“And you know I’d only do something if I thought it really was worth a shot. Like I thought it might be a good thing and I only want what’s best for you, right?”

“Ally… You are making me really nervous.” I try to read the look of concern on her face, wishing I could make sense of it.

“Just remember you love me, okay?” Her brow furrows and her attention locks on something behind my shoulder.

I turn to look and standing right there next to me are Ezra and Hunter. Hunter being one of the roadies and Ally’s long-term boyfriend and Ezra being the asshole who cheated on me and broke my heart just a few short weeks ago.

Oh,hell no.

I turn back toward Ally.

“Really?” I glare at her, wishing I’d just stayed home tonight because I don’t need any more awkward or humiliating events this week.

“I’m sorry, I know. I know. I just thought if I told you, you wouldn’t come and—“

“And you’d be right.”

“And I want so badly for everything to be patched up. So you can come around again and be at more of the shows. I miss you, Mackenzie!” Ally does look truly remorseful she’s put me in this position, but apparently not enough she’d put my comfort above her own. Anger and frustration simmer through me, but I’m not about to lose face in front of Ezra.

“Don’t be mad Zie. It’s our fault. Hunter and I heard you guys were going for drinks and we thought it’d be fun to meet up with you. Ally tried to talk us out of it. I just really wanted to see you.”

He pushes a lock of my hair back in an overly familiar gesture that makes me want to smack his hand away, but I take a deep breath instead. Reminding myself the best way out of this is to react as little as possible to him.

“Can we just have a drink, maybe? And then we can tell them to fuck off if you want?” Ally gives me a pleading look as Hunter settles into the booth beside her.

Ezra hasn’t sat down next to me; he’s hovering at the edge of the booth as though he’s waiting for permission.

“Won’t your new girlfriend mind you’re out having drinks with your ex?” I question in my most saccharine voice.

Hunter and Ally exchange knowing glances and a flicker of something crosses Ezra’s face.

“I don’t have a girlfriend,” he whispers. And I’m not sure what to do with that information as it hadn’t been that long ago when the two of them were locking lips intently at the side of the stage like they had nothing else to live for but each other.

“Yes, we’re all pretty happy to be short one redhead,” Ally glares at Ezra, who just stares down at his drink, looking some combination of guilty and remorseful.

“I see,” I mumble, not sure what else there is to say. I feel like I should be happier. A few weeks ago, this news would have sent a buzz of pleasure through me, that Ezra hadn’t gotten his cake and eaten it too, that he was single again, that maybe there’d have been some way we could patch things up. But as it stood now, I just sort of felt sorry for him. After throwing everything away and hurting me the way he did, he was worse for wear after it all.

What a waste.

“Sorry to hear that,” I add, when the silence between the four of us stretches a little too long.

“Are you?” He raises his eyes to mine, the slightest hint of shine in them.