Page 89 of Notice Me, Jameson Hart

“Explain what? That you’ve been planning to abandon us? That you’ve been sneaking around applying to Stanford behind my back?” Robbie’s hands ball into fists. “We had a plan, Adam. The three of us. Together.”

“Plans change,” Adam says quietly.

“Not like this!” Robbie whirls around, his gaze landing on me with devastating accuracy. “Did you know?”

My stomach drops to my feet. I can’t lie to him. Not now. “Yes.”

The betrayal that flashes across his face will haunt me forever. “How long?”

“Since early summer.”

“Early summer.” He laughs bitterly. “That’s great. Really great. My brothers have been keeping secrets from me all summer.” His eyes sweep the deck. “Who else knew? Rita?”

Rita takes a step forward. “Robbie?—”

“Just answer the question!”

“Yes,” she whispers.

“Hart?”

Jameson shifts beside me. “Yeah, man. Kevin told me, but?—”

“Unbelievable.” Robbie’s voice goes dangerously quiet. “Matthew? Tyler?”

“We had no idea,” Matthew says quickly. Tyler nods in agreement.

Robbie runs both hands through his hair, messing it up worse than any pool dive ever could. “So let me get this straight. My brothers, my best friend, and the girl I—” He cuts himself off, jaw clenching. “Everyone I trust most in the world has been lying to me.”

“We weren’t lying,” I protest. “We were?—”

“You were what, Kevin? Thinking I was too stupid to handle the truth? Too fragile?” His voice rises again. “Or did you all enjoy having your little secret?”

“That’s not fair,” Adam says.

“Fair?” Robbie rounds on him. “You want to talk about fair? Fair would have been telling me the day you decided to apply. Fair would have been including me in conversations about our future instead of making decisions that affect all of us without saying a word!”

Dad steps forward. “Boys, maybe we should?—”

“No!” Robbie backs away from all of us. “I don’t want to hear it. Not from any of you.” He looks at Rita, and something in hisexpression hardens further. “And you can forget about dating. I don’t date liars.”

Rita’s face crumples. “Robbie, please.”

“Save it.” He turns to Jameson next. “We’re done too. I don’t need friends who keep secrets.”

“Come on, man,” Jameson tries. “Kevin was in an impossible position.”

“No. Kevin chose his position. Youalldid.” Robbie’s voice breaks completely. “I thought I knew you people. I thought we were family. Friends. Whatever. I’m done. I don’t want to talk to any of you.”

“Robbie…” Adam reaches for him.

“Don’t!” Robbie jerks away. “Especially not you. You’re my big brother. We’re supposed to be a team, and you’ve been planning your escape route.”

“I’m not escaping.”

“Aren’t you? California, Adam. That’s about as far as you can get from here without leaving the country.” Robbie’s eyes are filled with unshed tears. “Were you ever going to tell me? Or were you going to show up one day with your acceptance letter like, ‘Surprise, I’m abandoning our entire life plan!’”

The boat rocks gently, but it feels as though the whole world is splintering. Everything that was perfect five minutes ago now lies in ruins around us.