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A cold sweat breaks out at the realization that he was awake and could have come out to the pool and gotten me alone—not just alone, but our parents were asleep, so he could have… he could have done anything.
Oh my god.
But shoving aside the horror of that realization makes room for a more important one.
This is the response Landon wants out of me.
It may be reaching to assume he knew I would be checking out her socials, that I would notice the time he posted it and from that realize he had been awake.
But honestly, it’s not a huge reach for anyone who knows me. I’m very thorough.
Even if I missed the time thing, just his comment on her picture would be annoying, and it wouldn’t be the first time he’s used some girl to annoy me. It’s an old play from the beginning of the book, one he’s been using against me since middle school.
Like at the 8thgrade fall ball when he sent Malek over to ask me if I wanted to slow dance with him, and I couldn’t breathe or think straight. My brain screamed no, but my heart said yes, and when I cautiously made my way over to accept his invitation, I realized Landon was already out on the dance floor with Vanessa Jensen, watching me with a malicious smirk on his annoyingly handsome face.
I realized a long time ago that it was one of his ways of keeping tabs on me. We don’t speak, but he needs to know he can still affect me if he wants to.
When he finds out I sent Hannah to return his latest bimbo’s lost clothing item, he will be so fucking satisfied with himself.
“Give me the shirt.”
Surprised, Hannah looks over at me. “What?”
“I’m being stupid. I’ll give it to her myself.”
“Are you sure?” she asks, watching my face as she hands back the shirt. “If it’s going to upset you, it’s not a big deal. I can take it to her.”
“No. If I let him think it bothers me, he’ll keep doing shit like this. If he sees I don’t care, maybe he’ll stop.”
“You do care,” she murmurs innocently.
I give her a dead look. “Your honesty is not helpful.”
She snickers, hugging her books to her chest. “Sorry.”
Once we’re inside the school, Hannah heads off to class and I head off in search of my new best friend, Brittany Benson. I spot her talking to two other girls by the lockers, and I paste on a friendly smile as I approach.
One of the girls spots me and signals Brittany that trouble is coming.
I can tell because when Brittany turns, she already looks nervous.
“Hi,” I say brightly.
“Hey,” she returns awkwardly.
I can tell she feels like a mistress being confronted by her lover’s wife, so I keep my smile friendly. Way friendlier than Parker-friendly. I’m shooting for Hannah-friendly. Nearby birds should be inspired to fly in the windows and perch upon my shoulder so they can chirp along gaily as I sing a lovely song.
Since this is unusual for me, it only serves to make the girl look more cautious.
I don’t want her to start wondering if the forced cheerfulness is because I have a nail gun waiting for her in the car, so I thrust the sheer scrap in her direction. “I have your shirt,” I say gracelessly.
Her eyes widen. “Youfound it?”
There’s a subtle note of disappointment in her inflection, and that’s all the evidence I need that Hannah was right. She left the shirt on purpose, and if anyone was going to find it, she wanted it to be Landon.
I picture her getting a little excited every time her phone vibrates, wondering if it will be him telling her she left an item of clothing at his place. Teasing her about what will happen when she comes back to get it.
I almost feel bad for her.
