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Just no.
I’d rather be stuck at home, smelling Mom’s baking and listening to music, mapping the cracks in the ceiling and recalling the green and gold of Jarett’s eyes.
There’s no escape, is there? No way to get him out of my mind.
Distant banging breaks through my thoughts and the music, and I sit up just as my door swings open.
Merc appears in the opening, blond hair sticking out in
all directions, his headphones around his neck. He nods at me, and then his mouth starts opening and closing without a sound.
I frown. “What? What are you doing?”
His shoulders heave. Then he comes around the bed and pulls the buds from my ears. “I said, Sydney is here.”
“What? Where? I was trying to…” I stop, because she enters the room.
Crap, crap.
Merc glances from her to me and pinches the bridge of his nose. “I’ll leave you gals to talk. I have an assignment to prepare for my English class.”
He passes Sydney on his way out of my room, and then he’s gone and I’m alone with my bestie.
Ex-bestie.
Maybe?
Syd sits on my bed, smooths her short plaid skirt over her legs. Her red hair falls in her eyes. “You’re avoiding me.”
I shrug and fiddle with the hem of my sweater. “Nah. You saw. I was listening to music, didn’t hear you call.”
“But you knew I called. Gigi, you were listening to music on your phone.”
I bite my lip. “Okay, so I wasn’t sure what to tell you. You’ve abandoned me and left I don’t know how many times by now. You hang out with drug dealers, and won’t even talk to me about it, and I had to ask Jarett to look out for you—”
“You did what?” She’s looking at me sideways from under her curls, and she looks equal parts shocked and dismayed.
“What did you expect me to do, Syd?” I tuck my hair behind my ears. “I was worried. Heck, I’m worried even now.”
She looks away and chews on her lower lip viciously. “Don’t be. And you shouldn’t have asked Jarett to be my bodyguard.”
“Really? Are you shitting me, Syd? He saved your hide more than once. And in case you were wondering, no, I’m not going out with you tonight.” I pick up my earbuds and prepare to shut her out.
Enough is enough.
Her hand on top of mine stops me. She leans in. “Listen to me, Gigi. I want to tell you everything, but this isn’t only about me.”
“Whatever.” But it comes out weak. “You said that before, and it’s not good enough, Syd.”
Her hand slips away and curls on top of my covers. “Shit. If I tell you a secret, pinky-swear not to tell anyone?”
I nod vigorously. “Yes, yes.”
“This is serious, Gigi.” Her gaze sweeps up to meet mine. She looks worried. “You can’t tell anyone at all about this.”
“I pinky-swear. Hey, you trust me, or not? I promise I won’t tell. Now spill. What is this about?”
Truth is, I’m terrified to hear it. Is she addicted already? Gone so far that she can’t stop?
