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I glanced away, biting my tongue, and struggling to conjure a smile, to put on a brave face. The best thing I could do was thank her for the advice like I normally would, then move on. It was simpler that way. But I was tired of swallowing down my emotions, tired of easy, and sick of getting steamrolled. Maybe self-restraint was overrated.
“You know, Olivia, for someone so pretty, you’re so ugly when you open your mouth.” I smiled one of her trademark plastic smiles—equal parts malicious and disingenuous—then ripped her hand off my arm.
Olivia’s eyes widened, and her face turned red. Clearly, she wasn’t used to people telling her off.
But it felt oh-so-good. I made her angry. Or embarrassed her. Or both.
But I wasn’t done yet. I had years of pent-up aggression, waiting for me to give it a voice.
I stepped forward and poked her in the chest. “You know what I think? I think Carson turned you down.” I had no idea if that was the case. He probably hadn’t, and I was an idiot for saying it, but something deep down told me it was true. Olivia and Tasha always seemed to get what they wanted, but I had seen the way Carson looked at her at The Bean and then at his party. Like it was a chore just being around her.
“That’s ridiculous.” She flipped her bleached-out hair over her shoulder, but she wouldn’t meet my eye.
“Is it? Because you all but told him you wanted him to ask you to the Snowflake Ball, but he didn’t, did he?”
Her mouth opened and closed like a beached Flounder in the most satisfying way.
“That’s what I thought,” I said and figured if I wanted to make my exit, this was as good a time as any.
I turned my back to her and started up the dunes toward the walkway when she called out behind me, “You can’t just talk to me like that!”
When I said nothing, she continued, “I didn’t want to go to the stupid dance with him anyway!” Then I heard her and Tasha conversing, the word “loser” sprinkled in their conversation, but I didn’t care because my feet were hitting the wooden planks in a steady cadence, shoulders back, head lifted high. I told my parents what I thought. I stood up to Olivia. And it felt good.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The adrenaline from my encounter with Olivia was short-lived.
I stood in the chilly air, waiting outside the Brooks’ home, with no sign of Carson in sight.
The thought crossed my mind that Olivia had been telling the truth. Maybe he was on his way to the beach that very second.
Talk about eating crow.
No, I told myself. I couldn’t think like that. Even if Carson did stand me up and go to the party on the beach, it didn’t negate the things I said to Olivia. They were still true. For the most part.
When I rang the doorbell one last time and no one answered, I called Ethan. Pressing the phone to my ear, I sighed in relief at the sound of his voice. “’Sup, my lady friend?”
“You out with Beth?”
“Yeah, why? What’s up?”
I sighed. “I guess you don’t know where your brother is, do you?” I asked.
“Oh, man. He’s not home?” Ethan asked in a gentle voice.
“If he were home, would I be standing outside your house in the cold waiting on him?”
“Okay, I sense you’re on the verge of a breakdown. So, deep breath,” he said, inhaling and exhaling loudly into the phone.
“Ethan!” I stomped my foot even though there was no one to see.
“Okay, okay. Just trying to help, but I thought he was home before I left. If you need help, Beth and I could come for a bit. Just say the word, and we’re there.”
Ugh. That’s all I needed was to be a third wheel right now.
“No. I’m fine, but all the stuff is in your house. I can put everything in my car, but I still need inside to get everything.”
“Say no more. I’ll text you the code to get in.”
