Page 53 of The Crafting Con

Or the greatest mistake of my life?

I’m not entirely sure I’m prepared for the answer, so I grab my bag and whisk out the door, forgoing breakfast altogether. The thought of watching her sulk over a man who abandoned us years ago makes my teeth grind. I’d rather wait in the chilly morning air outside where everything is still serene and quiet. Skipping morning coffee is a no go, however, so I fire off a quick text begging Stasia to bring an extra travel mug full when she picks me up.

She brings a huge one, cementing her status as BFF.

I gulp it down like water in the desert.

She side-eyes me from the driver’s seat. “Soooo… care to tell me what’s up?”

“Nothing’s up, just needed a caffeine fix.”

“Mm-hmm.” She presses her lips together. “The workshop thing going okay with you and Declan?”

“Totally.”

“Nice.” A pause. “You’re having fun then?”

“Yeah, it’s been great.”

“Good. Because I have a confession to make.” She shoots me a brief glance, knuckles white where she grips the wheel. “There is no anniversary party.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

She sinks into her seat with a guilty grimace. “Hiro and I made it all up so we’d have an excuse to get you guys talking again. ’Cause, like, you always looked so sad when you’d pass in the hall and stuff, and you always turn to look at his house when we drive past. Like, every time.”

I do?

“Please don’t be upset,” Stasia begs, shooting me her puppy dog eyes. The ones she knows I can’t resist. “We just thought the two of you needed a little nudge to patch things up.”

I should probably be mad, or at the very least annoyed. They straight-up lied to our faces, manipulating us into spending time together like conniving little grannies. And yet if I could go back in time and tell them to mind their own business, I wouldn’t. Because I am happy to have Declan back in my life. I missed him, plain and simple.

“You’re lucky you came bearing coffee,” I grumble. “You know I can’t be mad at my caffeine enabler.”

“Thank goodness.” She blows out a breath. “It’s such a relief to get that off my chest.”

“Whose idea was it, anyway? Yours or Hiro’s?” To think I didn’t even know the two of them were friends, and here they’d been scheming together. My mind is officially boggled.

“Hiro’s, but I came up with the anniversary excuse. Genius, I know.” A sly smile creeps onto her face. “What I didn’t expect was how well it would work. The way your face lights up every time you see him… If I’d known how things were going to turn out, I wouldn’t have encouraged Tyler about asking you to prom. Or at the very least run interference on his public promposal so you’d have the option to say no.”

“It’s all right. I know how much you wanted me to go, and Tyler’s a fun guy. I’m sure we’ll have a blast.”

“Yeah, but prom is supposed to be romantic. You should be going with someone who makes you all swoon-y inside.”

I laugh. “Like who?”

Stasia rolls her eyes. “Declan, obviously.”

“Declan is just a friend. He doesn’t make me”—I do air quotes with my fingers—“swoon-y inside.”

Stasia snorts. “Tell that to your face. If it gets any redder, you’ll get scouted as an Oompa Loompa in the next Wonka reboot.”

Ugh. I hate that she can apparently pull off elaborate cons where I’m concerned, but I can’t even manage to keep a blush off my face. “Fine. I may, sort of, have feelings for Declan.”

“I knew it,” Stasia squeals. “You two would look so cute together in formal wear! Ahhh, stupid Tyler and his over-the-top gesture that put you on the spot like that.”

“Seriously, it’s okay.” I hug my backpack against my chest, squeezing tight. “It’s not like I could have gone with Declan even if he did ask me first.”

“Why not?” Stasia wrinkles her nose in confusion. “I get that he’s kind of a geek, but I thought you were into that.”