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Chapter 13
It took a long time for me to fall asleep later that night. It was as though there was something hovering on the fringes of my mind, urging me to stay awake. As though, subconsciously, I knew what was coming. But I was exhausted. Though the day with Lizzie had been wonderful, a lot of what we had talked about was eating at me even when I got home and had dinner with theguys.
I tried to act as normal as possible, but I wondered if they, too, could sense that something was off. Cleo didn’t join me in bed that night, instead choosing to find a comfortable place with someone else. It felt like even my own cat knew something was up. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out like a light, and the dreamdescended.
* * *
I satat the counter in Alex’s, my legs swinging, swishing the skirt of my pretty floral dress—the same dress I had worn to the garden party all those months ago, around the first time I had met the guys. My heart thudded against my ribcage as I waited—for what, I wasn’t sure. Turning my head, I scanned the restaurant, noticing that I was alone. It was a ghost town. I shivered uncomfortably and went back to staring at the countertop, wondering what I was doing there. I could have moved or stood, but I knew I was there for a reason. So, Iremained…
When the front door’s bell tinkled a few minutes later, relief flooded my system. I whirled on my seat, a smile stretching my lips. Knix walked in first, ducking his head slightly as he always did and then stood tall. Then Marv just behind him and Bellamy, Grayson, and Texas. They strode in with their heads held tall and their facespassive.
I tilted my head to the side. Something was wrong. They looked different—older. As though it had been years since I had last seen them. But my relief at seeing them overrode that thought. I leapt off the stool and flung myself at Knix—who was at the forefront of the pack. He blinked in shock, but caught me and held me stiffly as I huggedhim.
“I’ve been waiting forever!” I chastised, pullingaway.
I looked up at Knix’s face, expecting a look of regret or guilt and an apology I would be more than happy to accept because I was just glad that they were there, that they had shown up. But that’s not what Igot.
Knix frowned. “Harlow, what are you still doinghere?”
I backed away, realizing that whatever was wrong stemmed to them as well. He didn't look particularly happy to see me. "I-I was waiting for you," Isaid.
"Waiting?" This time Bellamy spoke. I turned my head towards him, hoping for some spark of familiarity. But there was nothing. I took another step back, confusion warring with concern in myhead.
"Yeah," I repeated. "I was waiting on you guys to gethere."
"Why?" Bellamyasked.
I opened my mouth, but the truth was, I didn't know. Why had I been waiting onthem?
“Well, since you’re here...” Grayson was the first one to break the awkward silence that had descended, “I’d like for you to meet my girlfriend,Harlow.”
Shocked, I stared at him. “Girlfriend?” I parroted and my eyes widened even further as my heart sank deep in my chest, drowning under the weight of betrayal and pain as he reached behind him, obviously holding the hand of another girl. He brought her forward with a smile. “Justice, this isHarlow.”
I backed up, my spine bumping against the counter as I watched Justice smile my way and lean up to kiss Grayson on the cheek. “Oh, we’ve met,” Justicesaid.
I turned my betrayed eyes to the rest of them, but they were all staring at Justice as well, their gazes soft with…love?
“Yeah, she’sourgirlfriend now, Harlow,” Grayson clarified. “You know—after everything that happened, we decided that maybe another girl might beeasier.”
“Everything thathappened?”
Texas nodded as he, too, reached for Justice’s other hand. My heart splintered into a million pieces, each shred falling and stabbing at me—inflicting the worst kind of agony. “Justice is really sweet. I know we can’t be together anymore, but maybe you two could be friends?” hesaid.
I wanted to vomit—could feel the bile rising up my throat. I cupped my hand over my mouth and shook my head. “No,” I managed to chokeout.
Bellamy frowned my way and moved closer to Justice as she feigned a hurt look. “You don’t have to be rude, Harlow,” hesnapped.
Harlow.
Harlow.
Harlow.
NotSweetheart.
Not Spider-Monkey orPrincess.
NotSunshine.
