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“Actually, Jensen, I don’t.”

“He was a jerk to me, Finley. A complete and utter jerk. I told you all the stories. You know. And now you’re with him and he’s going to hurt you. All so he can get back at me.”

“Leave me alone, Jensen,” I muttered, and opened the door. “You know nothing.”

“You’ll see, Finley! I’ll prove it to you.”

MY FRIENDS WERE ALREADY SITTINGat our table in the courtyard at lunch. I held in my groan as I collapsed onto a seat. Deja’s full attention was on her phone, and she didn’t look up when I sat. Maxwell squeezed my hand, and it looked like Lee was squeezing Deja’s knee.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I should’ve told you all everything that was happening. It all happened so fast, and I’ve been so preoccupied with my revenge lately. That’s taken over everything.”

“We were supposed to be part of the revenge thing too, until Theo took our places,” Deja said.

“I know.”

“I thought you didn’t trust him.”

“Theo?” I asked as the words Jensen spewed flashed through my mind.He’s going to hurt you. All so he can get back at me.

“Yes,” she said.

I swallowed. “I didn’t at first…but now I do,” I said. Because I did. How could I not? He’d been nothing but kind to me. Whatever Jensen had heard from some mysterious source was just his twisted way of trying to get back together with me. “I kicked the ball through the uprights for the first time yesterday. Easily. And I was good. And I think I can actually make the team.”

“That’s exciting!” Maxwell said.

“I still don’t understand why he’s helping you so much,” Deja said, not able to drop the suspicions.

“Because he’s a nice guy,” I said. “And he likes me.” Was that so hard for everyone to believe?

“He seems nice to me,” Maxwell said.

“I know you don’t know him very well, and that’s entirely my fault,” I said. “Will you forgive me for cutting you guys out? I really didn’t mean to. You are my favorites, and I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”

She put her phone down on the table, finally giving me her full attention. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“That’s what Jensen said ten minutes ago.”

“You’re comparing me to Jensen?”

“What? No! I just need you to trust me. You’re my best friend. Don’t you trust me to know what’s best for myself?”

She let out a huff of air, then pinched the bridge of her nose, squeezing her eyes shut. I could tell a million thoughts were going through her head. Lee and Maxwell looked on nervously as well, not daring to interrupt whatever internal struggle she was having with herself. “I trust you,” she finally said, meeting my eyes.

“Good, because I need you.”

“It doesn’t feel like you do.”

“I promise I do.”

She reached across the table. “You have to include us in your life from now on.”

I grabbed hold of her hand and took a relieved breath. “I will. I really think you’re going to like him. And I know he’s going to like you guys. You’re the best.”

She looked around. “Well? Where is he? We need to get started on grilling him.”

Maxwell let out a squeal, as if he’d been waiting for everyone to be on the same page to properly celebrate. He smashed me into a hug. “I know this part wasn’t to get back at Jensen, but it’s just icing on the cake.”

“DID I RUIN EVERYTHING WITHyour friends?” Theo asked after school later. He’d just opened my car door for me, and now we both stood in the space between the interior and exterior.