Craving The Player (Amateurs In Love Book 1)(87)

“Regrets?” I ask, folding my arms across my chest. It’s easy to realize where she’s going with this. “Unfinished business?”

“You know what I mean,” she hums.

“Do I?”

“Stop answering all of my questions with questions,” she groans. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. Or who, I’m talking about.”

“Nope. No idea.”

“Braden? Super hot, super buff guy who you’ve been spending every minute of every day with for a couple of months now? I’m assuming it is him that’s behind the puffy eyes and lost sparkle?”

“I’m just tired,” I lie. “Sophie made me go out with her last night. I didn’t get a lot of sleep.”

“It looks like you didn’t get any at all, S.”

That’s because I didn’t. The only thing I saw every time I closed my eyes was the fear in Braden’s eyes when I told him how I felt. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to sleep again. Rejection courses through my blood like it was meant to be there, catching fire every few minutes when I think about the past week and burning me alive from the inside out.

“I got a few hours,” I lie again.

“Come on. I know you better than that. I’m your big sister. And big sisters know everything.”

“There’s nothing else for me to take care of here. Trust me.”

“Why not? Is he coming with you then?”

Her question makes a rough laugh rip up my throat and her eyes widen in shock. “I’m going to take that as a no?”

“Not in this lifetime, Clare. He doesn’t feel the same way that I do. That’s all. Can we just leave it?”

“There’s always more to it than that,” she pushes, not dropping the subject. “Men just need a bit more of a shove than women do.”

“I don’t think that’s the problem,” I sigh.

“Then what is?” she asks. “I’ve never met the guy, but from what you’ve told me, he’s just a hard shell to break. The typical fear of commitment and inability to open up type of guy.”

“That’s an understatement.” A heavy one.

“He makes you happy though, right? I’ve seen it. It’s been nice to see it. Really nice.”

It’s been nice to be happy. Refreshing, almost. But that’s done, and I’m going to be happy again. Just in a different way. I don’t need anyone to make me happy. Just myself.

“I can make myself happy,” I reply confidently, nodding to myself and smiling slightly when I see the airport standing in front of the rising sun.

“I have no doubt about that. But maybe don’t give up on him yet. He could always surprise you.”

“Yeah, okay,” I agree half-heartedly, my attention resting mostly on the excitement and nervousness I feel as we pull up to the drop-off lane in front of the airport. Butterflies swarm in my stomach, forcing me to swallow nervously. It’s now or never.

As soon as the car comes to a stop in the drop off line, I’m hopping out and moving to the back. Pulling open the trunk, I collect my bags before dropping them on the pavement and turning to see Clare standing off to the side. My heart lurches when I see the unshed tears in her eyes, hiding behind the pride I see there as well.

“I’m so proud of you, Sierra. Don’t forget that. And don’t forget to come visit us sometime. This will always be your home after all,” she says, voice wavering.

I move to hug her quickly, wrapping her up tightly and nodding into her sweater. “I love you so much. I’ll come back as soon as I can, and we’ll Facetime every single day,” I whisper, sucking back my sniffle.

She pushes me back but keeps a firm grip on my shoulders as she says, “I love you too. Now go get ‘em!”

I nod quickly, smiling for real this time before grabbing onto my bags and heading to the sliding doors, not daring to look back and risk changing my mind.





Chapter Thirty-Five





BRADEN





“There’s still time to stay here,” I mutter, dropping a newspaper-covered plate into a small moving box.

Dad’s scowl is immediate as he rolls his eyes and continues folding fuzzy pink towels before packing them away neatly. “You don’t have to help me. Tyler and Gracie could have.”

“And miss out on this amazing bonding time? Yeah right,” I say mockingly.

My attitude has only gotten worse the longer I’ve been at my fathers house, but as much as I’m dying to get the hell out of here and drown my feelings in whiskey, I would regret not spending every chance I have left with him. God knows I only have a few chances left before he runs away with his child bride.

“Attitude like yours is meant for a teenager, Braden. Not a grown-ass man.”

“Don’t lecture me, Dad.” My shoulders tense and I place the glass I’m holding inside the box harder than I probably should have. Lucky for me, it doesn’t break.

“If you want to act like a kid then I’m going to treat you like one.” He lifts a shoulder, sending me a fleeting look. “Can’t you just drop it for a few hours?”

“Yeah,” I grumble, leaving it at that. I don’t have anything else to add. If he wants me to pretend that I’m okay with him leaving then he’s being an even bigger idiot than usual. I’ll never be okay with this.