Page 25

Sloane
I stand in the cafeteria, shifting my weight, clutching my phone. My eyes dart in every direction, wishing and praying that Steven doesn’t show up. That he got an emergency call. That he has to file some paperwork. That—
“Hey,” A low voice murmurs behind me.
I spin around, almost stumbling into the column next to me. “Hey,” I reply breathlessly. “How’s it going?”
Steven doesn’t return my fake smile. He doesn’t return any smile at all. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” I say, confused. His shoulders are squared, and the usual glimmer in his eyes has been replaced with a somewhat somber look. The light is out. Something extinguished it.
“I saw how you reacted to that guy this morning.” Steven rubs the back of his neck. “Why he wasn’t with you last night?”
“Wh-what do you mean?”
“Come on, Sloane. I could tell there was something between you guys. And he wasn’t at the benefit, but he was supposed to be, right?”
“Yes,” I whisper, looking at the floor. “He was. But something came up and we…I just…I decided things weren’t right between us.”
“But this morning you couldn’t keep your eyes off of him. You barely acknowledged me when we ran into him.” Steven sighs. “I knew immediately that you had feelings for him. That look on your face…I knew right then I could never compete with him.”
“Steven, I…I’m so sorry,” I whisper. “I wish it wasn’t the case. You’re so amazing,. And you deserve a girl who isn’t hung up on some other guy, a guy she should stay far away from.” I shake my head. “I never meant to hurt you. I really wanted to get to know you better, to see where things could go.”
“But you can’t say goodbye, can you?”
His words sting, but I can’t argue with them. “No,” I whisper. “I can’t. I hate myself for even saying that, but it’s the truth. I’m so sorry.”
Steven nods. “I understand. I hope he knows how lucky he is.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re a really special girl, Sloane. You deserve the best, and I hope he’s up to the task.”
Yeah. Me, too.