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A lightning bolt of regret struck Tully before the panic set in. Her cocky smile vanished and she felt sick.
Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap.
What had she done?
She had already been sitting in a shallow hole, and now she was carrying her own shovel and digging her own grave.
five
tully
1 Week Before the Party
Tully swiped at another stubborn tear that snuck out without permission before it could fall further than her cheek.
Somehow, she’d managed to hold in every single drop after leaving Betty’s until she showed up on Stephanie’s porch. As soon as her friend opened the front door, she’d broken down and everything she had hidden from Erik and Joliet at Betty’s came out like a leaky faucet. One slow drop at a time.
Stephanie, having sacrificed her bed, sat next to her friend, reached her hand up, and awkwardly set it on Tully’s shoulder. Normally, Tully would shrug off the touch but she would allow it after Stephanie had patiently sat and listened to her sob story.
“Your sister is a bitch,” Stephanie said, shaking her head sympathetically. “She might even be a sociopath.”
“I know.” She swept another tear from her cheek.
“A million guys throw themselves at her, and she justhadto go after Erik. I don’t even see what’s so great about that cheating bastard. No offense.”
“She did it because he was dating me.”
“And he let her. They’re both complicit in this. Who knows how long this has even been going on? You deserve so much better.”
Tully felt multiple tears prick at once. It stung to be reminded of what she already knew. The betrayal was still raw.
Stephanie sighed and patted her shoulder. “There, there. Let it all out.” They sat in quiet for a few moments, Stephanie just by her side. She was doing the best she could, given she knew Tully was not good at this emotion thing. A few minutes later, Stephanie spoke again. “Do you want to do anything about it?”
Tully cleared the emotional lump in her throat and blinked rapidly. “What?”
“I thought maybe you’d like to get back at them. ‘A taste of their own medicine’ or something. Would that make you feel better?”
She might have considered that a few years ago, but now the retribution of trying to put Joliet into her place far outweighed the benefits because nothing ever went her way. “I’ve learned to ignore it.”
“I’ll do whatever you say, but if it were me, I’d take a page out of her book.”
Tully stared at her. Stephanie had a lot of crazy ideas, but vengeance wasn’t normally in her playbook. Stephanie noticed her stare and crossed her arms. “I’m serious. If she likes to be a bitch so much, then just become an even worse bitch.”
“I don’t know what I could do.”
“Cheat withherboyfriend or something.”
“She doesn’t have a boyfriend.”
“No, she doesn’t.” Stephanie nodded in agreement, gripping her chin in thought. Then a small, sly smile set on her mouth. “But even she isn’t immune to obsessing over a very specific boy for nearly a decade.”
Tully raised her brows as Stephanie’s meaning finally hit her. “You mean—”
“Nathan. Rondeau.” Stephanie nodded, satisfied with herself.
“You want me to—”
“Seduce him. Nothing will drive Joliet crazier than you getting the guy she’s been unsuccessfully pining for since the third grade. Plus, it will just back up what you said to Erik about having fun with other guys. Kill two birds with one stone.”
