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“Then she shouldn’t have broken up with me.”
“It’s the whole grass-is-greener thing. She thought some other guy would be better than you. I’m guessing she went out with some guys and realized how good she had it when you two were together. You did a lot for her, Jake, and you treated her well. Most high school guys aren’t like that. Most college guys aren’t either. Haley figured that out and now she wants you back.”
“It’s not going to happen. I still care about her, but I don’t feel like I used to about her. I don’t love her. I’m not sure I ever did.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I just don’t think I did.”
“You’d only know that if you were with someone else. Someone you actually love.”
“I don’t have to be in love to know that I didn’t love Haley. Having some time apart from her made me realize my feelings for her weren’t as strong as I thought.”
“So there isn’t someone else?”
“No.”
“Jake, Haley told me you’re seeing someone. Why are you lying to me?”
“Why are you listening to Haley? Maybe she’s the one lying.”
“She’s not going to lie about that. And she assumed I already knew. She asked me if I knew the girl. I didn’t know who she was talking about, so I asked her and she said you told her you’re dating someone.”
“I just said that so she’d leave me alone. I didn’t want her getting her hopes up, thinking there was a chance we’d get back together.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me that? Just now. When I asked you what you said to Haley.”
“I wasn’t thinking about it. What difference does it make? Why do you care?”
“Because I know you, Jake, and I can tell when you’re hiding something from me. I think you were telling Haley the truth and you really are dating someone, but you don’t want me knowing who she is.”
“Why would I care? You don’t know anyone here. If I was dating someone and told you about her, you wouldn’t even know who I’m talking about.”
“I would if it was Tara.”
The phone is silent as I consider what to say.
“So I’m right,” Dean says. “You’re still seeing her. Does that mean she broke up with Troy?”
“No, but she will. He’s been out of town for a few weeks. She’s been waiting for him to get back so she can tell him in person that it’s over.”
“You said she was breaking up with Troy weeks ago.”
“Yeah, well, she didn’t. But she will now that he’s back. She’s doing it this week, maybe tomorrow.”
“Jake, it’s not going to happen. If she wanted to be with you and not Troy, she would’ve ended it with him by now.”
“You don’t even know her. She’s not like that. She’s not going to tell me she’s breaking up with Troy and then not do it.”
“What if she doesn’t? What if this week goes by and she’s still his girlfriend?”
“She’s not his girlfriend,” I say, getting angry. I hate hearing Dean, or anyone, call her that. “Troy doesn’t even want a girlfriend. He just calls Tara that so she won’t date other guys, even though he dates other girls. He just got back to town and is already trying to hook up with some girl.”
“You saw Troy today?”
“At Sean’s house. I went over there to watch football with him and Leo. Then Troy showed up and I left.”
“Do you think he knows about you and Tara?”
