Page 56

Tess
I haven’t heardfrom Henley since Wednesday. Last I saw of her, she was hauling ass across the quad at school like she was being chased by an ax-wielding serial killer. Close. She was being chased by Conner.
It’s Friday and I haven’t seen or heard from her since. What really cements my status as Worst Friend Ever, is that I didn’t even realize I haven’t heard from her until I look up from the tire I’m airing up and see her standing near the rear fender of the car I’m squatting next to. Her mouth is moving but I can’t hear a word she’s saying. I don’t have to hear her. I can tell she’s pissed, just by the way she’s looking at me.
I toss the hose and turn off the compressor. “What?” I say, even though I’m not entirely sure I want her to repeat herself.
“I said, when were you going to tell me?”
My heart stutters in my chest and my mouth goes dry. She knows about Declan. What happened. That I want it to happen again. That I’m a horrible friend because I can’t stop thinking about him.
“Tell you what?” I say, even though what I really want to do is throw myself at her feet and apologize for being such a shitty person.
“That you’ve been hanging out with Conner.”
When I hear her say it I’m relieved that her accusation has nothing to do with Declan and the fact that I’m a miserable traitor. But then I get what she’s implying and I get mad.
“Where did you hear that?” My tone is harsher than I intend it to be. “Was it Declan?” When I say his name out loud my heart starts to pound, hard and heavy in my chest. I haven’t seen him in days. Not since that night he showed up and we argued. The night he kissed me. “What did he tell you?” I can see him doing it. Telling her that I’m hanging out with his brother. Implying there’s something going on between us. It would serve two purposes. It would further the divide between Conner and Henley and it would put an end to my friendship with him.
“Declan? No.” Henley shakes her head, her temper losing some of its steam in the face of mine. “I saw you together.” She looks around the garage like she’s sure he’s hiding somewhere. “He was walking you home and I—” She looks back at me. “He likes you. I can tell.”
“Yes.” I nod my head, leaning against the front fender of the car and cross my arms over my chest. “Conner likes me and I like him. But he is 100% head over heels in love with you. Con and I are friends—that’s it.”
She stares at me for a second like she’s trying to decide if I’m telling her the truth. Finally her shoulders slump. “I’m sorry.”
“About what?” I give her a quick smile. “That you pretty much accused me of hooking up with your boyfriend or that you’ve been MIA for the past week?”
She slides down the rear fender of the car until her ass hits concrete. “Both,” she says, aiming a miserable look in my direction. “I’m a horrible friend. And Conner isn’t my boyfriend.”
“No, you’re not and yes he is.” I close the distance between us and sit down beside her. I should tell her about what happened with Declan. What keeps happening. “I need to—”
“It’s funny that you thought it was Declan who told me,” Henley says, picking at a hole in the knee of her jeans.
“Funny?” I say. “I think you mean completely logical.”
“True.” Henley rolls her eyes. “I mean he came and found me at the library a few days ago. He apologized.” She chews on her bottom lip for a second before continuing. “He said he lied about Conner and Jessica. That he made it up.”
“Do you believe him?” I don’t look at her face when I say it. I concentrate on the hole she’s picking at.
“It’s hard to know what’s true with Declan. He lies.” She shrugs. “I can’t help but wonder why. Why now? Everything he does and says serves a purpose and that purpose always serves him.” She sighs. “I just can’t figure out how telling me he’s sorry gets him what he wants.”
Me.
I almost say it.
He apologized because of me.
I’m what he wants.
But when I open my mouth, something entirely different comes out. “Who cares why?” I reach for her hand, folding my fingers around hers. “What matters is that you know the truth. Conner loves you Hen.” When her face falls into a frown I squeeze her hand. “Just talk to him. Let him—”
“I’ve got to go.” She squeezes my hand back before pulling away. “My mom’s kicked it into hyperdrive lately. I had to sneak out of the house to come here and if she catches me out she’ll freak.” She stands before I can say a word. “Tell your dad I said hi.” She flashes me a quick smile and leaves.