So Much More (Book One in the Enough Series)

25. Talk

Eden

"Are you okay?" Brynn asked, standing in my bedroom doorway. I was laid across the bed, scrolling through social media. I hadn't responded to Reed's text, and I had been actively avoiding Nick as well. I'd been avoiding everyone, actually. I went to work, stayed much longer than needed, then came home and crawled into bed.

"I'm fine; why?" I looked up at her.

"Because you're not acting like yourself. You've been so quiet lately. I'm worried." She crawled up next to me on the bed, leaning her head on my shoulder.

"I'm okay. I'm just doing my thing." I shrugged.

"Have you talked to him?" She pressed.

"Nope." I replied, popping the 'p'. "He's clearly moved on, so I suppose I should also." I turned my phone, showing her the picture that had just come up on social media. The image was of Reed and a young woman sitting together in a booth at a bar.

"Maybe you should? Let him explain, and even if it's just to get closure?" She pushed a strand of hair out of my face. "Tate said he's miserable, and that picture was just him talking with someone while out with the team." She spoke softly.

"How does Tate know?" I snapped.

"I guess they talk now." She looked guilty.

"What? Since when?" I sat up.

"The day of the soccer game. Tate said he's a good guy, and I guess they hit it off. I think they hung out once, but he texts him and stuff." Brynn attempted to explain.

"Well, good for Tate." I rolled my eyes in frustration.

"Stop. You're being silly."

"Tate is the reason this all happened!! He just had to set me up on some stupid blind date, and look where it got us." I threw my hands up, quite possibly being more dramatic than necessary.

"Yea, you got yourself a guy you're head over heels for, and he got a new friend." She laughed.

"Ugh!" I groaned, burying my face into one of my pillows.

"Tate was also doing what I asked him to do. I wanted to get you to get out there, date, and find a nice guy. I thought he had better taste than what he did, but I think he's making up for it now."

"I feel like it's all some joke or something? Or that I'm just a sad case." I admitted.

"It wasn't a joke. Tate asked Nick if he'd be interested in a blind date. Well, anything that happened after that, you need to talk to Reed."

"Yeah, I agree. I really, really think you should talk to him." Tate spoke from the doorway. What was with these two and privacy!

"Well, you're a biased traitor." I teased, throwing my pillow at him.

"I told Reed that I care about you, that you're like a sister to me. I meant that, and you know that. But everyone is just stirring up this whole situation, and it only comes down to you two, you and Reed. So, yea, talk to him." Tate laid the pillow back on my bed and held his hand out for his girl. Brynn stood, leaning into his arms, smiling. I felt my heart sink, seeing them so happy together.

"Talk to him about this?" I showed him the same image I had shown Brynn a few minutes before.

Tate shook his head. "He went to the bar across from their hotel with the guys; he sat in the booth and talked to her about you. He was texting me less than an hour ago about it. I so wish you two would talk and figure this out. I'm not meant to be a relationship expert." He laughed. "I'm taking this one for a while, so perfect time to reach out." He winked before they both made their way out of my room and the apartment.

I pulled up the team's game schedule and saw that they were out of town for the next two days. I hoovered above his name for a bit, biting my lower lip and second-guessing myself. I finally decided to do it, take the chance while he was away, and maybe just set up a time to meet. If I changed my mind, it gave me a few days to do so.

E: Hi. Can we meet up and talk?

I knew that he wouldn't be waiting by the phone, but I was a little disappointed that I didn't hear from him right away. I moped around the apartment, made myself a little dinner, then took a long hot shower. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I still hadn't heard anything.

Reed

I woke up with a thud on the floor, having rolled off the bed. I groaned in misery, feeling a bit of last night creeping up. I wasn't hungover, but I definitely didn't feel my best. I got on my feet and rooted around for my phone. The other guys were already up and out, probably downstairs, getting breakfast before heading out.

I grabbed my phone and sat on the edge of the bed, getting my shoes on to head to my room for a shower. I turned the phone over to check the time, and I saw a message from Eden. I stood quickly in excitement.

E: Hi. Can we meet up and talk?

Fuck yes! I thought. I saw she had sent the message sometime the evening before. I was sitting there with a stupid smile on my face when the guys barrelled back into the room.

"He is alive." Josh laughed, followed by a few other guys from the team.

"I am. Thanks for waking me up." I shoved at him, heading toward the door.

"We figured you needed all the beauty sleep you could get to help that face of yours."

"Fuck off!" I shouted back before making my way down the hall to my room with Bennett.

Thankfully whoever he had brought back to the room was already gone, and Bennett was up and ready for the day. We had a short bus ride this afternoon to our next game for tomorrow and then back home. Now that I'd heard from Eden, I was excited to get back.

"You look like shit." Bennett laughed as he sat, phone in hand, at the small table.

"I had to sleep on the edge of a bed in a room with a bunch of stinky soccer players," I growled. "Eden, text me." I held up my phone and smiled.

"Finally. Maybe you'll be in a better mood now."

After a shower, some much-needed coffee, and all of my things gathered, the rest of the team and I loaded up on the bus. I was fortunate to get a seat in the back to myself. I relaxed and got my phone out to reply to Eden. I couldn't wait to see her; I just hoped it wouldn't be a goodbye meeting and she'd let me explain.

R: Hi. How are you? Of course, we can meet up. I'll be back late tomorrow, then off for a few days.

I sent the message, hoping she'd respond and we could have at least a small conversation. A bit of panic set in; what if she wanted to meet up to tell me in person that she didn't want anything to do with me?

"What'd she say?" Bennett asked as he plopped down next to me.

"Hmm?" I looked up from my phone.

"Eden, you said she texted you."

"Oh, yeah. She just said Hi and asked if we could meet up to talk. I was excited at first, but what if she wants to meet to tell me to fuck off?" I ran a hand through my damp hair. Bennett let out a little laugh, shaking his head at me. "What?"

"I've just never seen you like this before. I think you're freaking out for nothing, and I don't believe for a second she's dating Nick."

"Yea, well, Tate says she isn't. So how'd your evening go?" I asked him, wanting to change the subject.

"See, I told you." He smirked. "Ah, I had a good time. Thanks for letting me have the room."

"Well, I don't want to hear any of that shit." I shook my head with a laugh just as my phone dinged with a text from Eden. I could feel the giant smile on my face as Bennett looked over at me.

"Jesus, you're ridiculous." Bennett stood, heading back to his seat.

E: I'm okay. Will you text me when you're available? I can meet you anytime.

Short and sweet. I wasn't sure what to make of it.