The Invitation by Adriana Locke

Ripley

“I just got back from my second date with Georgia,” I say, a towel around my shoulders as I film my confessional. “I think it went really well. We met at the ice-skating rink and she seemed really happy to see me, which was great.”

“Then, you know what, I’m not sorry for keeping you waiting. Shit happens. It’s not my fault.”

I chuckle, drying my damp hair with the towel. “I took her skating because sports are a big part of my life, and I wanted to see how she responded. She did great.”

But I knew she would. Because Georgia Hayes doesn’t back down from a challenge.

Ever.

She’s courageous on top of everything else, although I’d never tell her that. That was even further proven when she told me about her dad.

“A couple of days before we were set to leave, he got the bill for my tuition at Waltham Prep and he went crazy. He called me like it was my choice to go there and screamed at me for ten straight minutes while I sobbed. Needless to say, we didn’t go on our trip. And I never heard from him again.”

What a fuck.

I shake my head and then pull the paper over and scan the questions Myla sent over.

“I was feeling pretty confident going into this date,” I say. “We seemed to hit it off at Ruma, and I was excited to spend more time with her. I was also really excited to interact with her in a more relaxed environment—just to see how we connected without a restaurant full of people.” I smile to myself. “It was fantastic.”

My mind slips to the end of the date, a place I’ve tried not to focus on too much. Instantly, my heart pounds.

I didn’t mean to share so much of my personal life with her. It just came out. And I never dreamed she would share anything personal with me, either. She makes a point not to do that most of the time.

But there we sat, talking about our dipshit fathers and how they’re both fuckups. We listened to each other. Encouraged each other.

Supported each other.

My throat is tight, so I shut the phone off.

I know this entire exercise is for Sutton. Georgia has made it clear she doesn’t really want to do this with me. So, why does it feel like that might not be true?

And why do I hope that maybe it’s not?

My fingers comb through my hair as I heave a breath in frustration.

“If we took you out of the equation, life would carry on.”

My hands fall to my sides. My stomach knots into a tight ball.

I’ve never been a part of Georgia’s life, and she’s carried on just fine without me. She saw what a fuckup I can be years ago and made the right decision to freeze me out of her world.

She’s not wrong. My goal was—is?—to make her fall for me for the hell of it because I’m an asshole.

Who am I to even consider that her motivations might be different? I know better.

I’ve always known better.

And I need to remember that. No matter what.