Page 148 of You Said I Was Your Favorite

Cadence though? She’s the absolute worst.

“It’s the truth.” Arch’s gaze barely flickers in my direction, like I’ve become subhuman to him once again too.

Cadence gapes, her mouth hanging wide open, and it’s not a good look for her. “You’re serious? Come on, Arch.”

“Dead serious.” His gaze finally slides to me, so intense I feel like I can’t move. I can’t even breathe when he murmurs, “Daisy Albright broke my fucking heart.”

And with those final words, Cadence and I watch Arch walk away without a backward glance.

The moment he’s out of earshot, Cadence scoffs, her incredulous gaze meeting mine. “What, did you pay him to say that?”

“I don’t have any money, remember? I’m just the broke scholarship girl.” I leave my sandwich on the counter and flee the dining hall, making sure I go in the complete opposite direction of Arch, though he’s nowhere to be seen, so truthfully, I have no idea where he’s gone.

Instead, I head back to my house, the need to spend a little time outside in our garden nearly overwhelming me. There’s no one out here. Just me and the wind coming in off the ocean in the far distance, the garden and the leftover roses still clinging to life, their heavy, wilting blooms bobbing and dancing with the breeze.

I sit on one of the old outdoor chairs we keep in the yard, dropping my backpack on the ground, a startled noise leaving me when I hear a cat’s meow.

The little tabby cat I found is now currently rubbing against my backpack, purring loudly. I bend over and rub my fingers together and he meanders toward me, rubbing his cheek against my fingers and letting me scratch under his chin.

“Aw, at least you’re still my friend, huh?” I pet him for a while until a door slams somewhere in the near distance, the loud bang startling the cat and making him dart away.

Looks like my last friend ditched me too.

It’s hard to believe only twenty-four hours ago I was with Arch. We were at the little café by now. Or maybe we’d already left and were wandering in and out of the shops, looking at everything. Laughing and smiling at each other. He distracted me from my misery and he was just the shot of happiness I needed to forget what happened to me.

To forget what I did to myself.

I reach up and draw my finger across the stitches on my cheek, wincing when I touch a tender spot. The doctor promised she’d do what she could for the wound not to leave a scar but I don’t even care anymore. Give me a scar and make me a hideous troll, what does it matter?

“I still think you look like a badass.”

I open my eyes to find Arch standing on the walkway that runs past our yard, his hands in his pockets, his gaze on me. I stare at him for a moment, my entire body aching to go to him, but I remain in the chair, unable to move.

“How are the stitches?”

Automatically, I touch my face again, tracing my index finger over the stitched skin. “Still hurts a little.”

“I bet.”

We can’t look away from each other and I jump to my feet, why…I’m not sure. I even part my lips, but no words come out. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how to express my feelings for this boy who was everything to me.

Who is still everything to me.

I wish I could tell him the truth. That my father threatened to ruin him.

I can’t risk Arch getting into trouble for something he didn’t do. I won’t be responsible for that.

“I know you want me to leave you alone, Daze, but I wasn’t lying when I said you broke my heart.” He visibly swallows and I know that took everything inside him to admit that. “I didn’t say that just to wreck Cadence, though I hope it did.”

My smile can’t be helped at his irritated tone—not because he confirmed that I did indeed break his heart. That was something I didn’t need to hear. But I do love that he still can’t stand Cadence. “She accused me of paying you to say it.”

“She would,” he says with a chuckle that dies quickly and he glances over his shoulder, like maybe someone his waiting for him. “I should go.”

“Wait—” I start toward him and he goes still, waiting for me just like I asked. I don’t stop until I’m standing directly in front of him and when I do pause, I realize he’s blocking the sun. The wind. He’s blocking everything and he’s the only thing I see.

“What’s up?” he asks softly, his gaze roaming over my face, as if he’s trying to memorize it one last time. I do the same to him, mentally cataloging his handsome features, and a tiny voice buried deep inside my brain starts asking me all sorts of questions.

That’s it? That’s all that’s going to be said? You’re just going to let him walk away and not tell him anything? But what can you tell him?

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