Page 1 of Pretend You Love Me

Prologue

Brooklyn

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I stop at a gas station just before I reach the border. After taking a shaky breath, I pull out my phone. I need to text my family and tell them...tell them what? I’m not telling them what I’m doing or where I’m going. I can’t tell them any of that, but I will tell them I’m going away. Not to worry. I’ll be fine.

I sigh.

They are going to be furious. Delaying it won’t make it any easier. I open the family group text and start to type.

Sterling Family Group Text

Me: I just wanted all of you to know I’m going away for a while. I’ll be off the grid. I don’t want you to worry. I’ll be back by the end of the summer.

Declan: I want to come. Take me with you.

Eli: Is this a joke?

Me: No.

Eli: James is going to shit a brick.

Juno: Do you have a secret boyfriend?

Me: No.

Keene: Are you running away?

Me: I’m an adult. I can’t run away.

Keene: This is a bad idea.

Me: Declan does things like this all the time and no one cares.

Declan: I’m not as pretty as you.

Me: That’s sexist.

Declan: Right. Okay. I’m a dumb idiot, that’s why. They don’t care what happens to me.

Me: You might be a dumb idiot but it’s still a sexist double standard.

Juno:word

Zadie: Is everything okay? Why are you doing this?

Me: I’m fine. Everything is fine. I just need to do something alone.

Declan: James is not going to like this.

Eli: Will is not going to like this.

Zadie: I don’t like this. Will you at least tell us where you are going?

Me: I can’t. I promise nothing is wrong. You don’t need to worry.

Will: What the hell, Brooklyn? Of course we are going to worry. Where are you going and why does it need to be a secret?