Chapter 30

CHAPTER THIRTY

Lila

"Damn, girl, your vagina really is spectacular," Chenille emphasizes the word spectacular by making jazz hands. The poor Chihuahua she's working on doesn't know what to think.

"Jesus, I knew telling you was a mistake, but you're not wrong." My shoulders shake despite the unease working through me. I finally told her what happened with Miranda and how I moved in with Drake. Of course, that led to confessing that Drake and I have a history. Needless to say, I shocked the woman, but I can almost see the gears turning in her head.

Her eyes narrow as she points the end of the scissors at me. "You've been holding out on me this entire time. That's just evil. You know I live for this shit."

I laugh, trying to lighten the mood. "What can I say? I wanted to give you a plot twist worthy of a Netflix binge."

"You better have more juicy details, or I'll cancel our friendship subscription. No refunds."

"Oh, don't worry," I smirk. "There's plenty more drama to keep you entertained."

Like the team's losing streak. Don't get me wrong, one player doesn't make the team, but Drake's poor performance this week makes me wonder if the sudden changes are too much.

"I have to know how the hell you scored moving into Drake Gunner's apartment?"

"Okay, moving in with him just kind of happened. I had little choice. But I don't know. Do you think it's too soon?"

"Admittedly, it's soon." She shrugs.

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, causing my whole body to sag in defeat. It's not as if I hadn't suspected this, but hearing it confirmed by someone else stings even more.

"You're taking what I said wrong." She leans closer to me. "Now, hear me out. It's not as if you had much of a choice. Getting away from Miranda was the best move. Trust me. I never cared for her anyway, but screw societal norms. Have some fun with this."

"When you say, ‘have some fun,' what exactly are you suggesting?" I ask, raising an eyebrow at her. Chenille has always been one for bold ideas.

"Listen, Lila," she starts, putting down her grooming kit and turning to face me fully. "You're living in the same apartment as Drake Gunner, a guy the tabloids would kill for a moment alone with. One who happens to be your ex-boyfriend. The way I see it," she pauses, her eyes sparkling with mischief, "you've got an opportunity that most girls would kill for. Use it."

Heat rises on my cheeks, and I avert my gaze. Chenille gasps.

"Oh my God, you already used it, didn't you? I was kidding earlier, but you fucked him already, didn't you?"

"Chenille!" I hiss, glancing around the shop to ensure no one has overheard her. She doesn't need to be any louder.

"What?!" she throws her hands up in mock surrender. "It's not a crime, Lila."

"No … but it's complicated," I reply, scratching at the back of my neck. Damn, Drake Gunner and his chocolate brown eyes that look too much like good coffee in the morning. Damn his tousled hair that never seems to behave just like him.

"And how is it complicated?" Chenille asks, feigning innocence as she clips the Chihuahua's nails again.

I sigh heavily and nestle into the chair, tucking stray hair strands behind my ears.

"It's complicated because … because it's Drake," I admit, my voice barely a whisper. "And he's not just any ex. We were … serious."

How do I explain how close we were? We were more than kids dating in high school. We were soulmates. Our love was the kind of love that was meant to last a lifetime, and yet here we are, broken pieces trying to fit together again.

"Serious, huh?" Chenille murmurs, and I can see her fighting a smile. "Geez, Lila. This isn't just another Netflix binge; this is like … premium cable drama."

I groan and throw my hands up in exasperation. "You're not helping."

Chenille halts her work, her gaze softening as she looks at me. "Drake Gunner, the prodigal bad boy, moves to town. And you, Lila Hayes, are in the middle of his chaos."

I grimace at her summary. It does sound like a bad soap opera when she says it like that. But for all the drama and angst, there are moments with Drake that feel right. Like coming home.

"And you think you're falling in love again," Chenille observes more than asks, her eyes on mine.

"No!" I protest too quickly and then backtrack when she raises her eyebrow. "I mean, I'm not sure."

"So you're falling in love again, or"—she snaps her fingers—"you never fell out of love to begin with. Ah-ha! That's why you never enjoyed talking about baseball."

I open my mouth to deny it again, but nothing comes out because I am unsure what will happen next and where this path with Drake is leading me.

"Ah," she drags out. "I'm so happy for you."

"I mean it," she insists, looking at me with genuine warmth. "This is the kind of love story people always dream about. The high school sweethearts, the messy breakup, and the unexpected second chance."

The story sounds almost magical with the way she describes it, but inside, I feel like I'm clawing through a tangle of emotions—fear, hope, confusion. I'll feel better once he's back, and I can judge how he's doing after he's had a week to marinate this.

Chenille gives me a wicked smile. "I think you should enjoy it. And hey, if things go sideways, at least you'll have some juicy stories to tell."

"Yeah, I guess." I shake my head, laughing at her words. Amid my emotional turmoil, my best friend always finds a way to lighten the mood.

"How'd Jake take the move?"

"That kid. He's something else," I say, a fond smile spreading. "He was pretty excited about the whole thing. Keeps asking when he'll get to see Drake play."

Chenille laughs, shaking her head in disbelief. "You've got a little fanboy on your hands."

"More like an aspiring baseball player. He's been bugging me to ask Drake for some tips." I chuckle, my heart warming at Jake's enthusiasm.

"That's adorable," Chenille coos, finally finishing with the Chihuahua and returning her full attention to me.

"I warned him the move was temporary, and Drake was just doing us a favor until I found something."

"Do you think that's what it's going to be? Temporary, I mean?"

I suck in a breath between my teeth. "I don't know. Like you said, it's too soon. Not to mention that he just got out of a relationship."

She shoots me a look. "Did you just call that fling a relationship? Please. That woman was using him for his fame and glory."

I shrug. "Yeah. I'm just swept away in it all."

I've harbored hatred toward him for years, but once he explained the reasons behind his actions and I learned his mindset, all those reasons to hate him melted away like the last snowflake in spring. Now, I'm left wondering if maybe, just maybe, this temporary arrangement might have the potential to thaw into something more permanent.

"But that's a good thing. And who knows? Maybe you'll be the one to tame the bad boy of Boston."

I snort at that. The idea of taming Drake Gunner is as laughable as it is terrifying. The man is a force of nature, wild and unpredictable, and the idea of trying to control him … But then again, maybe that's precisely what draws me to him.

"When does he get back? Tonight." I glance out at the rain beating against the glass. "Hopefully, the weather won't delay him too long."

She waggles her eyebrows. "Are you going to welcome him home wearing nothing but an apron? Play a little kitchen baseball? Round the bases?"

"Chenille!" I swat at her, bursting into laughter. "Quit it. You're not even making sense."

She holds up her hands in surrender, but the glint in her eyes tells me she's not done. "Okay, okay, I'll back off … for now."

"Anyway," I say before she throws in more baseball metaphors. "Did you finish with Mr. Snuffles?"

Chenille glances down at the Chihuahua, now wandering aimlessly around her feet. "Yeah, all done," she says, lifting him onto her lap.

A weight settles in my stomach as I watch her fuss over the small dog, her laughter light and carefree. It's not envy, but something close—a longing for simplicity, for a life free from drama and tangled relationships.

"Have you considered what happens if he signs with another team?"

"What?" I jerk my head back. "Is that a possibility?"

She stares at me with an incredulous look. "This really was fast, wasn't it?" She shakes her head and stands, holding Mr. Snuffles. "Just a sec. I'll be right back."

I searched my phone search engine for Drake's name. A heaviness settles in my stomach at what I find. Rumors have him going to the West Coast. The freaking West Coast. How can we be together if he moves across the country? My life is in Boston. I'm buying a business, for crying out loud.

My hands shake as I hold the phone. When Chenille returns, her smile drops.

"Oh, hon. I thought you knew. He never told you?"

"No." My voice sounds weak, which I hate. I want to be strong. I want not to care. But this blindsided me.

"He should've told you."

"To be fair, he did say he was in for a big payout. I just didn't realize he meant with some other team." I foolishly assumed he'd stay in Boston.

Right when things are looking good, the damn rug gets pulled from beneath me again.

Looks as if we will have a discussion when he comes home tonight. So much for kitchen baseball. I just hope it's not on a permanent rain delay.