Kiss and Don't Tell(72)

I wasn’t kidding when I said I’d never found anyone I cared enough about to call my girlfriend, but with Winnie, I could easily see her claiming that title.

Who am I kidding? I want her claiming that title.

My phone buzzes and I quickly snag it from my pocket hoping it’s Winnie, but when I see that it’s my dad, my hope falls.

Dad: Has Josh reached out?

Even more annoyed now, I text back.

Pacey: Yeah.

Dad: Did you talk to him?

Pacey: Not yet.

Dad: Promise that you will talk to him.

What a shitty promise to have to make, because the last thing I want to do is talk to Josh. Not after the way he treated me, my dad . . . and now Winnie. He doesn’t deserve my time, nor my attention.

Tempted to text Dad back and let him know my true feelings, I instead let his request go unanswered.

I don’t have time for Josh.





Chapter Sixteen





WINNIE





I check myself in the mirror one more time, something I don’t do often, but when I know Pacey Lawes is just down the hall, I’m making sure not a hair is out of place. I’m not sure what today will bring, but I at least want to be comfortable while doing it. I chose a pair of navy-blue leggings and paired it with a white crop top. I kept my hair in a messy bun and dabbed on a little mascara.

Subtle, but cute. Doesn’t look as if I’m trying too hard, thank God.

I have to call the tow truck company this morning because it seems as though it didn’t rain last night, but it’s supposed to possibly rain tonight. I want to see if he’ll come up today, even though it rained yesterday. I hate knowing Minnie is stuck in a ditch, out in the woods by herself.

Unsure of how to greet Pacey, especially in front of the guys, I prepare for a smile and a wave while I get my coffee. Seems like the proper thing to do.

I head out of my bedroom, thankful the ache in my muscles has settled and I’m able to walk without looking as if I need a cane.

The chatter of the boys is the first thing I hear, and then when the main living space comes into view, I catch them all standing around the kitchen island, chatting it up with Stephan, who’s hard at work. Even Halsey has his head out of a book this morning. I rove my eyes over the handsome faces but quickly notice one face in particular is missing.

“Good morning,” Eli says, “want some coffee?” He’s wearing the hat I got him, which is endearing. I feel like a child who painted their mom a mug and she uses it despite it being the ugliest mug in the cabinet.

“Oh, I can get it,” I say, waving him off. I’m tempted to ask where Pacey is, but I don’t want to be that girl. Instead, I move to the coffeemaker, grab myself a mug, and pour some coffee. I add some milk and sugar and then turn around to find all the guys staring at me. “Uh, everything okay?” I ask.

“Everything is great,” Silas says as he scratches his chest. “Just wondering where your friend is.”

“Pacey?”

“Yeah, usually he’s up by now. Didn’t know if you tired him out.” Silas wiggles his brows, making my cheeks flame with embarrassment. I want to shout “we only kissed, that’s it. Just a kiss.”

“Dude, don’t ask her that shit,” Eli says while pushing Silas in the chest. “That’s none of your business.”

“That’s not very hostess-like,” Levi says with a nod toward Silas’s cup that I got him.

“I’m just curious. Pacey is always busting our balls at this hour,” Silas says.

“Even mine,” Stephan adds as he hovers over the stove, making what smells like some miracle French toast.

“He’s in bed,” Halsey says from the side.

“And you know this because . . .” Silas asks, humor in his voice. “Wait, did you spend the night with him?”

Finding no humor in the situation, Halsey says, “Stopped by his room this morning to see if he wanted to work out. He has a migraine again.”

The boys’ jovial faces turn serious and the mood in the room shifts as an eerie feeling soaks up all the energy.

Migraine?

Again?

What are they talking about?

A far distant memory from our day in Banff strikes me. Some fan asked if Pacey’s head was okay. Is that what they’re talking about?

“Did you take him anything?” Eli asks, going into dad mode.

Halsey nods. “Yeah, gave him four Ibuprofen and forced him to drink a protein shake, too.”

“Did he throw up this time?” Levi asks.

“Yeah, he admitted he threw up a few times this morning.”

Okay, fear starts to travel up the back of my neck as I listen in. Throwing up, too? Migraine? This is serious. I want to ask what’s going on, if he’s going to be okay, but I also know Pacey probably kept this information from me for a reason.

“Shit,” Silas says. “Should we call Doc?”

“I asked if he wanted me to call,” Halsey says. “He said no, that it would pass.”

“When was the last time you checked on him?” Eli asks.

“Five this morning,” Halsey answers.

Eli glances at the clock and says, “We should check on him again.”

“I can,” I say, stepping in. I might not know what’s going on, but I also don’t want to sit by the sidelines, feeling helpless.