Chapter 68 CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT

Chapter 68 CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
JOSH’S POV

I watched Eva walk away from me, every new step hurting than the last.

She didn’t stop when I called out to her. Or when Indianna even tried to get her to look at her. She simply walked out of the locker room, leaving dozens of unspoken words hung up in the air.

“Uh, oh.”

Indianna looked at me and then the empty space Eva once occupied.

“Was I interrupting something?” she stood right where Eva was, stretching her arms towards me. “Wow, I actually was.”

“Fuck,” I cursed under my breath, realizing all over again that Eva had just left. I could feel Indianna’s eyes on me as she drew closer to wrap her arms around me. “No, you weren’t.”

“But stop,” I added, pulling away so her arms could easily fall back to her side. “Stop this. Don’t— just don’t.”

She looked offended but I couldn’t help it. There were so many wrongs I needed to correct and to do that, I was going to have to be selfish.

“What’s going on?” she crossed her arms over her chest, turning around to look in the direction Eva walked out from again. “Did you— wait a minute, did you finally confess your feelings? Oh my God, are you guys a thing now?”

“She’s my girlfriend, yes,” I ran my hands through my hair. It still felt nice saying it out loud like that but the thought of her not feeling the same way almost drove me crazy. “Yeah, we’re together.”

“Aw, I’m happy for you,” Indianna hit me lightly by the shoulder. “I’m not the happiest person in the world right now but I’m still happy for you regardless. It’s going to be interesting seeing you in an actual relationship.”

“I’d hope so,” I raised my brows and quickly added. “Also, can you not tell anyone? No one but you knows so please keep it that way for now.”

“Okay, I can do that,” she nodded very slowly. “But when you mean no one, do you mean absolutely no one? Not even Peter? Or your younger sister who, if I’m not mistaken, is pretty much her best friend?”

I ran my hands through my hair again, resting my back against the locker.

All I wanted to do was talk to her about us. I wanted us to talk about how we were going to tell people. How I was going to tell Peter.

I had no intentions on keeping her a secret. After everything, the last thing I wanted to do hide away my feelings for her. But when she suggested we kept it away from people for a while, I understood her. Completely.

But the mention of Aaron had triggered something in me I couldn’t explain.

“I’m sorry if I sound slow but did you two just have a fight?”

“Do I not look miserable enough?” I was already walking out of the locker room by the time I answered Indianna. “Why did you come here? Did you come to find me?”

“So, you did have a fight,” Indianna walked by my side as we got to the hallway. “Wait a second, did I cause your fight?”

I didn’t reply, Indianna doing the maths herself.

“Why? Because I came to the locker room to meet you?”

“No, Indianna,” I barely stopped as I kept on moving. “Because she thinks there’s something going on between us. No, she—”

I paused my words, Indianna immediately pausing her steps. “And that’s my fault?”

“I never said it was your fault.”

“Then why are you mad at me?”

“I’m not mad at you, okay?” I turned to face her, letting out an exhale. If there was anyone I was truly mad at, it was myself. “ I’m just— everyone thinks there’s something going on between us so the truth doesn’t really matter right now. “

She looked hurt but once again, I couldn’t help it. “But she knows the truth, doesn’t she?”

“You know it’s a lot more complicated than her just knowing a part of the story we’re choosing to call the truth. Especially when there’s a thousand reasons she’s supposed to think otherwise.”

“You don’t have a choice regarding that do you though?” Indianna folded her arms. “What do you want to do? Tell everyone you’re dating her? Can you really do that? And Peter? Your parents? Do you really have that much freedom to do whatever?”

I hated how right she was. Just a couple minutes ago, I’d chosen to be reckless. Completely forgetting being reckless was a luxury I still couldn’t afford.

Eva was now by my side but at what cost? That still didn’t cancel out the possibility of me losing my best friend. Or even worse, the certainty of me disappointing my parents.

“Why did you come to find me?” I massaged my temples, wishing I could push away my thoughts completely. “Did you have something to say?”

“Yeah,” Indianna nodded. “One of the brands I influence for are throwing a party this weekend. And I get the most traffic when you appear in my videos so they want you at the party too. As my date or whatever you’d like to call it.”

“Oh.”

“You can make it, right?” it didn’t really sound like a question but I nodded anyways. “Splendid. I’ll see you this weekend then.”

She flashed me a smile and then turned around to leave after adding, “I’ll text you the dress code. We’re going as a couple.”