Page 25 of Strum Me

I ignore it, turning to Sebastian and pinching the underside of his arm.

“Ow!” he yells and tries to pinch me back, but I duck out the way. “Fuck-knuckle! Isn’t that your order?”

“Is it?” I say, putting on my innocent face that has never fooled anyone, ever.

“Nice try. Sounds like you ordered for two,” Jez says with a grin spreading across his face. “Oooh, you dog you, don’t tell me, you finally infiltrated the lion’s den!”

“Shut up,” I growl at him as I collect my order from the counter.

“I knew it”

“Fuck off, I’ve gotta go.”

“Yeah, maybe brush your teeth before you climb back into your bed in those clothes you wore last night!” Marius calls after me, as I run out the door to my car.

“Fucking idiots,” I mumble as I drive back to Emily’s house. Juggling the drinks and paper bag, I quietly shut the car door and make my way up the driveway, hoping her family are still asleep and I can creep back into her room.

“Windsor! What are you doing here?”

I spin around to see Silas following me up the driveway. Unlike me and my mates, he appears to have already showered and changed into non-prom-wearing attire.

“Um. I’m here to see Emily,” I explain, almost dropping the coffees in surprise.

He stares at me for a moment, sunglasses hiding the expression in his eyes. “It’s a bit early, don’t you think?”

“Well, you’re here, aren’t you?” I reply, shrugging my shoulders.

He sticks his hands in his pockets, his chest suddenly seeming a little wider. “Well, I’m her boyfriend.”

It takes everything I have in that moment not to throw the coffees in his face. Instead, I calmly ask, “You sure?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, last I heard you guys had called it off.”

“Nah, that was just a fight. She just needed some space. Anyway, she texted me last night. She said she wanted to see me. So here I am.” He lifts his sunglasses up on top of his head and gives me a wink.

“She texted you?” I don’t believe him. She can’t have.

“Yeah.”

“When?” When could she have sent it?

“Last night.”

He’s making it up. He has to be. “When, man, when?”

He frowns, his eyes searching mine, wondering why I’m so invested in his answer. “I don’t fucking know, late last night. Why does it matter?”

“Show me.” I don’t care how desperate I seem. I need to know the truth.

“You’re outta your mind.” He takes a few steps up the driveway to the front door.

I follow him, the hot coffee spilling from the unsealed lid, burning my hand. “Just...come on, man, humor me.”

“Fine!” He gives in and flicks through his phone before holding it out for me to read.

It only takes a few words to make the whole world start spinning around me.