Page 42 of The Wicker King

BOY

August’s pocket had been buzzing all through chemistry. He hadn’t gotten a chance to check his cell phone yet, but chances were it was Gordie.

Earlier in the day, Alex had told him that Gordie was probably going to ask him to be her boyfriend again. She thought things were going well and wanted him to commit to a relationship.

And they were going well … in a way. They weren’t fighting—which was a miracle—and he really liked having her around. But the entire concept of dating Gordie again gave him anxiety. It would be better to just step back now, before they reenacted their entire previous relationship.

She deserved a better guy than him. Someone who had time to actually take her on dates instead of ditching her all the time to deal with Jack.

And he had to deal with Jack. That was nonnegotiable.

When the bell rang, he took out his phone and answered whichever text was on the top without reading it:

we need to talk. 12:00 behind the gym

BRUT

“I don’t think we should continue seeing each other,” August said bluntly. He didn’t like to beat around the bush. He was too tired for anything like that these days.

Gordie frowned. “Why?”

“I know you like me. Like, like-like me,” August said. “And I’m sorry about that. You really shouldn’t.”

“Why?” she asked quietly. “Why shouldn’t I?”

August looked down at the grass. He wasn’t sure how to answer that question. “I didn’t mean to lead you on. I didn’t know you actually were interested in anything legitimate until Alex told me how you felt. I just can’t right now. I’m sorry.”

“You’re so full of shit, August. You know exactly why I shouldn’t. You’re so choked up with your own hypocritical bullshit that you can’t even admit that you never liked me, or really wanted me at all.”

“Gordie, I did like you. I do like you—”

Gordie laughed, harsh and angry. “And you know the best thing about it? I’ve always known you were like that and I loved you in spite of it. I thought, ‘Maybe I could give him what he needs, even if I’m not the one he truly wants,’ but—”

August stopped listening. What did she even mean by that? There was no other girl he wanted. He was way too busy to even consider something like that.

“And you didn’t even have the decency to come at me like a man and give me the respect of admitting that you used me.”

August rubbed his hand over his forehead. “I’m sorry. I’m just really tired right now. Okay? We can still be friends.”

Gordie shook her head as she backed away from him. “No. No, we can’t.” She didn’t even punch him good-bye.

HOT HANDS

Jack leered at him, grinning dangerously.

“Don’t hit as hard next time,” August complained.

“I make no promises.” Jack’s hand twitched and August flinched. But he didn’t move away.

“This feels like some sort of terrible trust exercise.”

“You only say that because you’re bad at this game. Besides, it’s not my fault. If you moved away in time, you wouldn’t get smacked.”

August rolled his eyes dramatically, and Jack took the opportunity to whip his hands from under August’s palms and slap the tops. Hard.

“Ow! Jesusfuckingchrist.”

“Annnnnnd five out of five. I win,” Jack said smugly.