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Okay, this was escalating.
“It was none of your damn business,” Coop said. “Seriously, girl, get your own life and butt out of hers.”
“I think she needs more people in her life, because if you all had your way, it would be the four of you and no one else…” Rachel stood up. “And I’m not afraid of you or Jake or Bubba or Archie. You’re all a bunch of—”
I whistled. It was sharp and shrill, and they both turned to look at me.
“Now that I have your attention,” I told them. “Knock it off. Rach—seriously, thank you, but I can handle this. And Coop—shut up. Rachel did me a favor. You don’t like it, because I was righteously pissed at all of you.” And hurt.
His expression shifted. He knew what I wasn’t saying.
“You don’t get to be mad at her for telling me the truth.”
He blew out a breath and raked a hand through his hair.
Smiling faintly, Rachel glanced at me. “I’m going back to the party. Come find me when you’re done, if you still want to get out of here.”
“Thanks.”
“Sure thing…” As she started away, Rachel pivoted. “I work on weekends and on a couple of afternoons after school. One of the perks of early release, I’m usually getting done with work when everyone else is getting home.”
She had a point. “Cool.”
Another smile, and then she was gone.
“I hate this,” Coop said, his voice somber. “I really hate this, Frankie.”
“Well that makes two of us.”
“Three,” Ian said as he slid around a collection of pine bush. “Sorry, I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but I came out here to see if you were all right, and I guess Coop had the same thought.”
“Coop wanted to make sure I hadn’t escaped or snuck off with some other guy.” The fact Coop grimaced said I wasn’t too far off the mark.
“You’re mad at us,” Ian said quietly. “We deserve it. I’m sorry, I should have given you a head’s up. Admittedly, when my friends do bonehead things, I try to talk them out of it. I was kind of hoping you’d never have to know because they’d change their minds.” With a glance at Coop, Ian continued, “You should know Coop was the first one to tell them to back off.”
“So it was basically Jake and Archie, that’s what you’re saying?”
“No,” Coop offered. “It wasn’t. We all knew. We all talked about it. Ian never backed off, I—did. After Thursday, I really, really want this shot. Now I think we blew our feet off.”
I didn’t have an answer for that, so I folded my arms and leaned back. I was so tired.
“I have to be able to trust you guys,” I said slowly. “That’s—that’s why I told you what I wanted in the first place. I trusted you. I know I spent the summer not trusting you, and that sucked. What you did hurt—this hurts more. It’s not just about Mathieu.”
Coop rubbed the back of his neck. “We know. But what Ian said earlier is right, we didn’t know how to tell you, or if we should. I mean—she’s your mom.”
Dropping to sit on the ground in front of the bench, Coop studied me. Ian glanced between us and then he eased down into the spot Rachel abandoned. “Do you mind if we just hang out here with you?”
I did and I didn’t.
“Guys, I don’t know what to do.”
“Okay,” Ian said on an exhale. “Want to try talking to us like we’re just your best friends?”
“And not the guys I made out with?” Coop winced, but he nodded. “Trust circle?” His smile was weak but genuine.
“We were friends first. I beat up Robbie Gillerton for you.”
I snorted. “I knocked out Maisy Jackson’s tooth for you.”
