AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She was my friend first,” Zara said in a sing-song voice.
“And she’s my girlfriend now. Your point?”
“Best friends over boyfriends.”
Jesse’s thoughts drifted as the siblings bickered. If he was allowed a date, who would he bring to family dinner? He hated that he was even considering Raina as an option, but he couldn’t get her out of his head. Not that she would say yes—with how fractured their relationship was—or that they even had a relationship, because whatever had been budding between them had been torn out and stomped on a few weeks ago.
Zero for two, Jesse couldn’t help but think, his mind jumping back to his failed not-relationship with Nicole.
* * *
“Cohen!”
Raina stopped by the library doors, glancing around to try and figure out where the voice was coming from. After a few seconds of searching, she spotted Nicole sitting alone at a table, books spread out in front of her.
“Hi.” Raina gave her a hesitant smile.
Nicole rarely initiated conversations with her unless it was to order Raina to do something, so she wasn’t sure what the other girl wanted. Another ‘tutoring’ session? Mrs. Dixon hadn’t brought it up again, so she figured the teacher was fine with their singular attempt.
Nicole snapped her book shut. As always, she was immaculate in a Wednesday Addams-style dress, fishnet tights, and combat boots. Raina suddenly felt dowdy in her favorite oversized sweater and jean skirt.
“We have to talk about dinner with your parents.”
Raina nodded quickly. “I totally understand if you want to back out or something. I’ll tell my parents something came up.”
“I gave you my word, Cohen. I take that seriously.”
“Oh. Then what did you want to talk about? Did you have more questions?”
“I have to stop at my house after. I got your address from Gracie, and we’re about twenty minutes away from each other. It’ll be too late to drive back to Trinity, so I figured you could stay at your house overnight, and we’ll pick you up in the morning.”
“That makes sense,” Raina said slowly. Then her mind caught onto Nicole’s last few words, words that she hadn’t heard before. “Um, did you say ‘we’?”
“Oh yeah, Jesse’s coming too,” Nicole said, her face perfectly blank. “He can drive, so I figured it would be the perfect solution.”
Raina was sure her fish impression was spot-on. “Um…what? No, that will be an absolute disaster.”
The other girl merely hummed as she glanced down at her notebook, highlighting a line in neon yellow. “Oh, he’s alreadyveryexcited about it. Don’t worry, it’ll be fine. He’s coming.”
“You haven’t met my mother.”
“Well, Jesse and I will do that soon.”
Dinner with her family…and Nicole…and Jesse. There was no point in arguing with Nicole Lawrence when she was set on something, and for some reason, Nicole was set on Jesse accompanying them. And even though Raina thought this was an absolutely horrible idea and would in no way end positively, she could tell that Nicole wasn’t going to change her mind. At this point, Raina wasn’t sure whether she should be thankful she was bringing friends home for dinner, or pack her bags because her parents would surely pull her out of Trinity after meeting Jesse and Nicole.
Zara’s entrance saved her from having to respond, the redhead hurrying up to the table with Jesse following close behind.
“Guys, I hate to say this, but I actually kind of miss Aaron as principal,” Zara complained. “Alex is an even bigger asshole. He caught me making out with someone and lectured me for like an hour.”
Raina frowned at the other girl. “Is your shirt on backwards?”
“No,” Zara said, glancing down at her shirt. “It’s just—yes,” she corrected herself. “Yes, it is.”
“Well, who were you making out with?” Nicole asked. “That’s the real question.”
“Hey, all,” Tehilla Goldstein said as she walked over to the table, a stack of books clutched in her arms. Her caramel curls spilled over her shoulders, free of their usual ponytail. She seemed to be wearing a little more makeup than usual, which Raina confirmed as Tehilla got closer and she could see her glossed-up lips.
As much as she and Tehilla hung out in the kitchen, they rarely saw each other during the school day, so Raina was a little surprised to see her friend in the library. “Hey, Tehilla. How’s it going?”
