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“Nope.” Meg wipes her mouth on her wrist. “But Ididneed revenge, for self respect reasons. I have a reputation as a tyrant to uphold.”
Ah, shit. A bug whines close to my ear, and I wave it away. “What did you do?”
Meg’s smile is pure alligator. “You’ll see.”
Nine
Clementine
Dear diary,
Meg says a ten mile run will win back her heart. I’ve only ever managed six.
Wish me luck.
* * *
The side gate screeches on its hinges, and frankly, I know how it feels. I, too, feel rusted to hell. Every bone in my body aches as I stumble into the back yard, and I can’t feel my feet.
Ten miles. In the summer evening heat.
Just leave my body out for that gator.
The light faded while I was gone, the sky blushing pink, and the string lights twinkle in the trellis. It’s beautiful, but I’m too hot and cranky to appreciate it.
“Good run?” Meg smirks at me from the edge of the pool, her bare legs dangling in the water. She’s in one of Duke’s old football shirts, the wide neck slipping off her shoulder.
Jealous.
That’s my first thought, but I push it away. What’s the point of wishing I could wear his clothes? Coveting Meg’s dad has officially brought me nothing but pain.
I wave her off, staggering along the path. Sure, this morning I was scared to death that I’d lost my best friend; that I’d screwed everything up beyond repair. But after Meg came back from her stress walk first thing, she insisted on training me all day, calling it my penance—and I let her.
If she wants a three minute plank before we can make up, so be it. My arms shook like two limp noodles, but I made it.
So. We’re okay, or we will be, anyway. And after ten miles of agony, I’m done. Kaput.
“Back, demon.” My thigh muscles twitch as I kick off my sneakers and peel off my socks. I’m so wobbly and woozy. “I’m not doing any more press ups. You’ll just have to forgive me already.”
Meg hands me her half-drunk bottle of water as I collapse at her side. “I already forgave you hours ago. After the burpees.”
“Before the run?”
“Yeah.”
The drink is lukewarm, heated by the sun, but I gulp it down greedily, shaking my head behind the bottle. “Screw you,” I gasp once I can breathe again.
Meg laughs, her feet kicking in the water.
And as we sit together in silence, despite the awfulness of today, despite my throbbing muscles and the heartbreak searing my chest… it’s nice. Birds chatter in the trees, and insects hum. It smells like damp soil.
My bruised feet throb like crazy as I lower them into the water, but it’s refreshing. Scours my soul clean.
Don’t suppose I’ll ever come here again. Not after everything that happened with Duke—crossing that line together last night, then his rejection this morning. How could I?
Really, I shouldn’t even linger for another day. Where’s my pride?
“I should move along,” I say quietly, one fingernail scratching at the stone tiles. “I’ll go back to the dorm; get a job on campus until final year starts. It won’t take me long to pack, so I’ll head out first thing tomorrow. You think Duke will mind if I stay one more night?”
