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FIFTEEN

I’d always been impulsive as a child. Need someone to dive into the lake?

I was your girl. Want to try out a new hair color?

Sure, I’ll be your test subject. Maybe it was luck, but I’d been fortunate enough to not get hurt by any of my reckless choices.

I’d skated by on luck and adrenaline, making me never bother to doubt my choices.

After all, what did I really have to lose?

I’d tried to tame that side as I grew up, but it never quite died. My gut never seemed to falter, and I leaned on it to lead me down the right path.

At least, until today.

I sat on Victoria’s bed as she packed her stuff for her three-week trip to visit Adam.

While I watched her pull out her suitcases, a knot formed in my stomach.

When she first talked about going, it was a simple choice.

I’d do anything for my best friend, and Lord knows she needed to see her man.

Adam had already been in LA for almost four weeks, and even though she tried to be strong for Emilia, his absence weighed on her.

She’d even resorted to sleeping in his shirts, needing to feel a little closer to him.

“You’re sure that you’re okay with doing this?” Victoria asked as she loaded the folded clothes into her bag.

I leaned down, reaching into her basket of shoes and holding up two pairs of sandals for her to pick from.

As she pointed to the pair in my left hand, I answered, “Of course I’m okay with this, Tori.

I’m excited to get to spend some time with Emilia.

We’ll be fine—great, even. You have nothing to worry about. ”

Okay, that was an overstatement. But even though I had doubts about this whole situation, I wasn’t about to tell her, not while she was already struggling with her choice to leave her daughter.

“I know,” Victoria sighed, holding her hand to her stomach. “I just hate leaving Emilia. It’s that double-edged sword—I’m excited about going, but I hate leaving her behind. What kind of mother leaves her daughter because she wants to spend more time with her boyfriend?”

“One with healthy boundaries, who is setting a good example for her kid,” I said.

“Seriously, Tori. Emilia needs to see that her life doesn’t end the moment she becomes a mother.

You’re incredible with her, and everyone can see your world revolves around her.

You don’t have to feel guilty for wanting a little time for you and Adam. ”

She chuckled, brushing tears away from her lash line. “When did you become the voice of reason?”

“I’ve always been the wise one.” I smirked. “Now, are we packing lingerie, or is Adam more of an au natural kinda guy?”

“Hadley Rose!”

“What?” I gave her my most innocent smile. “Just trying to help my bestie. I need to live a little vicariously through you.”

Victoria rolled her eyes as she stepped back into her closet, throwing out some more clothes I dutifully folded. “No luck on the dating apps?” she called out, her voice a little muffled.

“Nope,” I said, letting the “p” sound pop.

Not that I’d even opened them. I was still trying to forget about that moment with Cam, when he pressed me up against his truck and ran his thumb over my lip.

It was a sign of how pathetic my love life had become lately.

We hadn’t even kissed, and yet, he was all I could think about.

How his eyes darkened when he leaned into me, the fresh, subtle scent that clung to his clothes after his shower.

The callouses that lined his thumb, making my insides clench.

However, there was a freeze between us now, worse than it had ever been.

At least, in the past, Cam and I would verbally spar, neither of us willing to back down to the other.

Now, it was complete radio silence. He was busy with the team, but that was only a part of the equation.

He was avoiding me. Literally. If I walked into a room, he’d find an excuse to leave it.

Beyond a mumbled hello, he hadn’t said a word to me since Victoria and Adam interrupted our moment.

It bothered me, and I hated that it bothered me. A month ago, I would have been delighted if Cam avoided me. Now, it left a pit in my stomach, one I couldn’t soothe, no matter how much I tried.

I missed our arguments, missed that teasing glint in his eyes, missed the friendship that had been developing between us. It was worse than before, when I thought Cam hated me. At least then, I knew where we stood, and I was good with our mutual loathing.

But after seeing the other side of him—the one that was warm, funny, and attractive—it would never be enough for me. It was like flying too close to the sun. There was a risk you’d get burned, but you were willing to take it for a few moments in its warm embrace.

Victoria slammed her suitcase closed with a loud thud, breaking me out of my head. She sighed as she looked around the room. “I think that’s it.” Her wide eyes met mine. “It’s really happening. I’m leaving.”

I stood, wrapping my arms around her in a tight hug. “Yup. And you are going to have the best time ever.”

“Thanks, Hads,” Victoria said as she dropped her head to my shoulder. “How am I ever going to repay you for this?”

“You don’t have to,” I said as I leaned back. “It’s what we do for each other. I have your back, Tori. But…” I smirked at her. “If you stumble across any of Adam’s co-stars in spandex, I wouldn’t be opposed to a photo or two.”

“Hadley Rose!”

“What?” I said in mock innocence. “Nothing indecent, just enough to get my imagination running.”

Victoria grabbed her suitcase, muttering under her breath as she walked out of her bedroom. “You’re going to get me kicked out of Australia.”