Begin Again

chapter ten

"AND HE JUST invited you to spend Thanksgiving with him?" Talia practically shrieks. She's been repeating the same question for the tenth time since I'd told her how my picnic with Miles went.

We're sitting on my bed, sharing a bowl of popcorn as we watch an episode of Love Island. Or rather, it plays in the background as Talia interrogates me.

"Yes, Tal," I confirm again, becoming exasperated. Talia doesn't care, though, as she lets out another squeal of happiness that has me wincing from the shrill sound.

"I thought it was so cute when he came over with that basket and planned to picnic with you," she gushed. "But that's even cuter!"

"It's not cute," I say pointedly. "He probably only invited me because he felt sorry for my sad excuse of plans I had before." Talia waves me away, giving me an I don't believe that for a second look.

She levels her stormy blue eyes with mine. "No guy would offer to have you spend the holidays with him while simultaneously having the opportunity to meet his family. He's infatuated with you, Eve."

He's infatuated with you. Her words rattle around in my brain for a solid minute while I chew on a piece of popcorn.

He refused to let me meet his parents when I was with Sebastian. Claiming they were too overbearing and controlling and that it would be hell on earth for me. I had to drag him to their house just so I could meet them, and even then, he'd sat there as they tore me apart, not opening his mouth once to defend me. But with Miles, the genuineness of his personality already makes me believe he will never let that happen. Besides, with the way Miles is, I know his family isn't going to be like Sebastian's parents.

"Why won't you admit that you like like him?" Talia asks after a moment of silence. I roll my eyes at her choice of juvenile words.

"Because I don't like like him, Tal," I mock. It's her turn to roll her eyes, giving me a look of disbelief. Before I can respond, I hear the front door of the apartment slam shut, followed by the sound of footsteps.

"Ronnie?" Talia calls, and a minute later, my bedroom door creaks open to reveal the mess of brown waves that belong to Veronica. She opens the door a bit more, and I notice her puffy eyes as if she's just finished bawling her eyes out.

"What happened?"

"Are you okay?"

Talia and I scramble off my bed, making a beeline toward Veronica, but she waves us away, trying to put on a convincing smile.

"I'm fine, I just—I had the worst day at work," she settles, but I know that is a bold-faced lie. I go out on a limb and deduce that her sour mood has something to do with Olivia, but she isn't saying anything about it. The only thing that can continually frustrate me about Veronica is how much she keeps things bottled inside. I know it's her way of coping, but I can always tell that it eats her up inside, and that makes my heart ache, especially with all of the times Talia or I will reassure her that we're always here to listen.

"Do you want to join us?" Talia asks, probably coming to the same conclusion I have as her eyes fill with concern. "We're just watching Love Island." Veronica shakes her head, already backing out of my room.

"I think I'm just going to shower and do some homework," she says, trying to put on a convincing smile. My frown deepens when I see her lips wobble. "You guys have fun." Before Talia or I can protest, she's gone. A few moments later, we hear her bedroom door shut softly. I breathe, turning around and meeting the quizzical look Talia is giving me.

"What?"

"I'm worried about her," Talia says indignantly. "I know she's been extra sad about Olivia lately, but I know Ronnie. There's something else."