Page 129 of No Headlines Please

Whose time?

Mine or hers?

Still, I said it again. "Sure, anything."

"And I wouldn't even ask, except it's not for me."

I tensed. "Oh?"

"Yeah. It's for Tessa."

I swallowed. "Tessa?"

"Yeah, there's this big thing planned for her – it's kind of a parade – and it would be really super nice if you could help out."

A parade?

For Tessa?

I clutched the phone tighter. "So…you'd like me to come to the island?"

"What?" She laughed. "No. It's not that big of a favor. I just need you to make a phone call, that's all."

My heart sank. "Oh."

"It doesn't have to be a long phone call," she explained. "And it's only to Tessa."

Stupidly, I repeated my sister's name. "Tessa."

"Right. In fact, short and sweet is probably for the best. This thing has a lot of moving parts. The whole town's getting involved."

The whole town?

I couldn't seem to stop blinking. This should've been hilarious. Only Tessa would be getting her own parade – organized, apparently, by my former best friend.

Trying to hide my hurt, I quietly asked, "And you want me involved, too?"

"Absolutely." But then, just as my heart was starting to unclench, she added, "It would mean the world to Tessa. I just know it."

Tessa.

Again.

As my stomach churned, Maisie went on to explain that Tessa had felt conflicted about this guy she was dating because she was worried I wouldn't approve.

None of it made any sense.

Maisie even told me the guy's name, Ryder Vaughn, which was no surprise, considering that receipt for Tessa's rent.

How any of this involved me, I had no idea.

But what else could I do?

Of course, I agreed to the favor. If nothing else, I owed Maisie that much.

I was even a decent sport about it, too. Or at least I tried to be, despite the sting.

It helped to think of myself as an actor in a play. All I had to do was deliver a line or two at the appointed time.