Angie rolls her eyes. “Ay, Dios mío. You’re not switching PTs; stop it.”

“Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were my mommy now.”

“You can call me mami if you want.” She makes a kissy noise at me while Justine chuckles. “Kai is the best in the business, and Coach has already cleared you to spend your entire recovery time back in Texas so that’s not an excuse. What are you really worried about?”

Rejection.

Or even worse. Falling back into his arms and being the cause of his ruin.

Texas has too many memories and it’s too close to my father, who wouldn’t hesitate to ruin Kai’s life if he even thought we were reconciling. I know all too well what he’s capable of.

The thought of my father getting involved in Kai’s life is enough to send me running for the hills.

“I don’t know.” I wince as the lie leaves my throat. As much as I trust Angie and Justine with my life, there are some things I can’t share with them. Some things I have to take with me to my grave for their own good.

There are many things I’ll never forgive my father for but taking away my ability to truly let anyone in is one of his biggest offenses.

I grab my phone when I feel it vibrating to find one of the other reasons I’ll never forgive him is texting me.

MDR: You sent extra this month, how come?

I type out and delete five messages before I settle on something simple.

Me: Willow’s birthday is coming up, right? Just thought I’d help with any party plans

MDR: You don’t have to do that you know

Me: I know

MDR: You have to let it go Livvy

If only I knew how. I put my phone facedown and look at my reflection in the pool as my feet wade in the water. I’m disappointed in the face looking back at me. I am not that scared little girl anymore. I have to stop acting like it.

“I think you do know and you just don’t wanna say,” Angie says, bringing me out of my pity party.

Before I can respond, Justine, the only one of us actually in the pool, swims over to Angie and yanks her in the pool by her legs. Angie screams bloody murder before Justine dunks her back in the water and hops out onto the ledge, adjusting her Senegalese twists that she threw into a messy bun as she does.

Angie pops out of the water, wiping the soaked strands of her chestnut-brown bob out of her face. “Mierda! Babe, why the fuck would you do that?”

“Because, Liv clearly doesn’t want you to press her right now, so you need to give her a break.” She sticks her tongue out at Angie, prompting a laugh out of me.

Angie gives both of us an “oh it’s like that” look before she starts splashing us both with water. I jump up when the water smacks me in the face.