Page 54 of The Publicity Stunt

I’m halfway across the street when the sound of April’s voice follows me out. “Parker!”

I don’t want to look.

Her footsteps get closer, and I still don’t turn around. I’m scared if I do, I’m gonna start crying. Yes, I’m that pathetic.

She pants, trying to catch her breath, and places a hand on my back, over my brown jacket.

I stiffen at the touch. “What is it, April?”

“What is it, April?” she parrots, walking around me so we’re facing each other. “What the hell is the matter with you? Why’d you just leave like that?”

“It’s a party, isn’t it? I came, I got bored, and now I’m leaving.” Just as I’m about to walk past her, she shoves me back.

Literally.

April Moore literally lifts both of her tiny fists and shoves me in the chest. Hard.

I look down and frown.

“Don’t make me tackle you, Hayden Parker, because I will.” Her eyes narrow into scary little slits. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“You’re gonna have to be much more specific than that.”

This time her glare rivals that of Holly. “Why are you being like this?”

“Like what?”

“A complete asshole!” Her expression flashes with annoyance. “Ever since we got here it’s like, I don’t know—you won’t talk to me, you won’t even touch me—”

“I’m the asshole?” I scoff. “Me? That’s fucking rich.”

“Yes, you!” April yells. “We used to be friends! Best friends! And now you … you can’t even look at me without making that stupid face.”

“What stupid face?”

“Like you hate me.”

That word. Hate. It makes me wince. I don’t hate her. I could never hate her. But I do hate how she makes me feel. And more than anything, I hate that I don’t have the same effect on her.

It’s not fair.

“You’re the one who ditched me to go ‘hang out’ with your fucking boyfriend,” I shoot back. “And I’m the asshole?”

“For the last time—” She clasps her hands shut right in front of my face to emphasize her point. “He’s. Not. My. Boyfriend.”

“Yeah, right.”

“The guy doesn’t even know the difference between Marvel and DC. You really think I’d date someone that ignorant?”

“That’s what I thought too!” This is nuts. “But then you kissed him and called him ‘babe.’”

She rolls her eyes. “That’s not true. He did both of those things to me.”

“You deserve someone better, April.”

She shakes her head. “You don’t even know him.”

“But I know you,” I blurt, immediately wanting to take back those words. “Does he?”