l and give us all the down and dirty details so we can live vicariously thro

ry. For

probably means he wants to work things out. The problem is that he really hurt me, and I don't know if I can let that go. Rather stupi

re than happy to send me a photo every time she saw him out wi

e just taught three tap and ballet classes back-to-back. I should be tired. Teaching fifty-five-minute-long classes to four and five year olds is exhau

pair of leopard print ballet flats. Grabbing my bag, I wave goodbye to Donna, the owner of the studio,

uilding with his hands shoved deeply into the pockets of his cargo shorts. He straightens to h

, I

itant. His normally overconfident, cocksure self is notably absent. Which is probably for the best. The expression tugs at something dee

a coffee," he clears his throat,

ch which means that-yes, I do have time to grab coffee but that doesn't

making him look downright adorable. Like a cuddly pup

y? I just w

r of it. I can only comfort myself with the fact that at some point, we would have probably sat do

can't stay long. I have plans later." It's not that I'm trying to play games but what I

Instead of fishing for information, he inclines his head toward

he knows

. I have to admit there's something comfortable about falling back into a friendship with someone who knows all the lit

y, s

awberry banana one which is exactly what we always ordered when we were together. Once we have our drinks, we head outside to sit at one of the

apologize for my behavior the other night. I honestly didn't mean to piss you off." He glances away before quietly continuing. "It

hs during my freshman year before I left Barnett. "Honestly, I don't know Roan at all." I give a little shrug. "He

p as his greenish-brown eyes drill into mine. "Do me a favor and stay away from him, Ivy. Roan is nothing more than a douchebag player an

rn that has him issuing the warning. "I appreciate t

ady figured out he was the worst kind of trouble there is. And in the subsequent days since, my opinion has only solidified. People naturally f

I've been avoiding Roan as well. It also helps that I'm taking eighteen credits, working ten hours a

l on a cheating ex-boyfri

chair. His gaze probes mine before he quietly admits, "I really missed you, Ivy." Now th

folder titled-douchebag ex-boyfriend tell a different story.

ing, I raise a bro

w I broke things off right after you left for Paris." His brows draw together as he pauses. "I guess it was jus

ings work between us. Rather foolishly, I had hoped he liked me enough to want that as well. Ins

n be all sad bastard in Paris? Well...yeah, me apparently. After a few weeks of moping around, I'd pulled

ross the table before laying his hand over mine. "I still care about you, Ivy." Something changes in his eyes. A

ked hands as I cont

have feelin

e. I had relegated Finn McKenzie to the just a guy I had once dated category. No one was more su

In fact, I believe the words-he can go screw himself were ban

y that I'm torn. I mean, we were together for six months. Not t

cally feel m

l glimpse of my heartache. "The way you ended things," I begin softly, "I was away from everything, everyone I knew, trying to get acclimat

completely understands what he did

know

er. His gaze pleading with mine. "I'm sure you've grown and changed in the fifteen months you were gone...well, so

have fun together. I'd fallen really hard for Finn freshman year. With my front teeth sink

up alive. For whatever reason, she'd never liked him. Not even in the beginning when I'd start

ll, not until she started s

Gestures that had burrowed easily under my skin. And I guess, because of the situation with my dad, I'd been de

'd still felt a bit lost. The death of my mom when I'd been fifteen had all but dev

erally swept me off my feet. I mean, everyone on campus knew who Finn McKenzie

hadn't felt special to anybody. Not since my mother had died. In the six months we were toget

while, I stopped looking at them. I kept them in a file and watched t

fteen months later. Wa

e cha

e mat

oyishness. His handsome face was all chiseled planes and angles. His body was bigger. Shoulde

e was something easy about falling back into a relationship with a guy who had once meant something to me. A pers

re which one out

use I'm trying to be coy or play games but

for a chance, Ivy," he finally says, "just

nds. All of the good times we'd had swim through my head and before I

as he gently squeezes my hand. "

probably will regret giv

y when I