Page 156 of Dear Love, I Hate You (Easton High)

“Dia.” Brie changes the subject. “How nice of you to join us. Although… you probably should’ve let the trash outside.”

Believe it or not, it’s not the insult that hurts.

It’s his laugh.

Xavier actually laughs at his girlfriend ripping me apart.

As though he wasn’t kissing me in the rain three days ago.

As though we haven’t been talking nonstop for months.

As though I never ripped a part of my soul and gave it to him.

“Shut the fuck up, Brie,” Dia snaps. “Tell him, Vee.” My best friend elbows me, and I feel like an embarrassed kid at recess about to confess her crush.

I look Xavier d

ead in the eyes, ready to call him out on his bullshit, but no words come out.

“I…”

Brie and Lacey laugh, enjoying every bit of my struggle.

“Something wrong, Aveena? Why don’t you go cry to Zac about it?” Brie mocks, her words piercing my flesh like a hot poker. I can’t help glancing at Xavier. Not because I expect him to defend me, but because he’s Zac. He’s just as responsible for the confession debacle as I am.

Yet… Here he is.

Laughing with them.

“Oh, I’m sorry, are we still pretending like you’re not Love?” Brie cackles.

Dia swoops in with a change of subject. “Get your ass off the couch, Emery. Vee needs to talk to you.”

“Careful, Dia,” Brie warns. “Girl betrayed her own sister. What’s to say she won’t steal your boyfriend, next? Oh, wait, that’s right. You don’t have the title. Must suck. Being good enough to fuck but not to date.”

Finn’s fists roll into firm balls. “Brie, you say one more fucking word—”

“Xavier. Talk. Now,” Dia presses.

Xav rolls his eyes.

“Jesus Christ, fine,” he huffs and pushes to his feet.

Ouch.

Dia shoots me an encouraging look, and I lead the way to an isolated corner by the bathroom. Xavier’s tall frame towers over me, his face an emotionless blank.

“What do you want?” he drawls.

Who is this guy?

Where did my pen pal go?

“Why?” I barely say.

“Why what?” He scans the area as if to find something worthy of his attention.

“Why did you sleep with me? If you knew you were going to go back to Brie.”