Page 57 of Total Jane Wreck

I rub my forehead with the heel of my hand. “Wait. You’re saying I imagined Birdy spying on Chet and me because, deep down, I’m afraid he still loves her?

“I’m saying it’s possible. Like your subconscious is messing with you—cuz of everything that went down with Chet, Birdy, and Mason. Talk about a tangled web!”

“Hold on.” Though I’m scared to hear the answer, I have to ask the question. “What went down between Chet, Birdy, and Mason? I mean, specifically the three of them together?”

I can hear Brontë shifting, like she’s uncomfortable. “Okay. I was on Instagram last night. Saw one of Birdy’s posts and randomly clicked on her profile. Then—not sure why—started scrolling through her grid, back to several years ago. Turns out, Birdy dated Mason before she ever was with Chet.”

There’s a tight, pinching sensation inside my chest. “Did Birdy post anything about why she and Mason broke up?”

“Not really.” Brontë sighs. “But I spent more time looking at her recent posts. She looks rough, Jane. And lately, she’s been posting from the cancer center. A lot.”

My head starts to hurt. “Let’s talk about something else.” I brighten my tone. “How’s work? How’s the sexy farmer?”

“You mean Michael?” Brontë’s voice lowers into a conspiratorial whisper. “I’m too superstitious to say that things are really good—but, Jane, things are really good.”

“Yay!” I cry. “Give me details!”

***

Later, I find Chet in the tack room, oiling a bridle. Which is great. It shows that Chet was sincere when he said he wants to be more hands-on with the horses.

“Hey,” I say.

He looks up from his task. “Hi. How was your shower?”

“Good. Sorry I took so long.”

“No need to apologize.” Chet blinks at me. “Is something on your mind?”

Attempting to be casual, I lean against the doorframe. “Why do you ask?”

“Let’s just say you’re the most transparent person I’ve ever met.” Chet goes back to oiling the bridle.

Good to know. Guess there’s no point in hedging around the issue. “Chet, is it true that Mason and Birdy were a couple?”

His hands don’t stop moving. “Where’d you hear that?”

“Does it matter?”

“Was it Instagram?” He sets the bridle down. “I thought you hated social media.”

“Chet.” I stand up straight, square my shoulders. “Come on.”

“What do you want me to say, Jane?”

“Just the truth.”

His chin juts out. “Yes. They were together.”

“Why didn’t you mention it before?”

“Because,” he says, voice tight, “it’s irrelevant. It’s also none of your business.”

Ouch. “I disagree,” I say. “After Mason was attacked, you had me lying to Theo. That makes anything Mason-related my business. And if he has a grudge against you—”

“Oh, he has a grudge against me,” Chet snaps. “But that grudge predates Birdy. Mason likes to hold a grudge against the entire world. Once I came to terms with that, I stopped worrying about him. Refused to let him live rent-free inside my mind. Understand?”

I shrug.