Page 74 of Truly

Surely, she’ll see that side of things in the morning.Please, God.

“It’ll all be better in the morning,” I say. “I just need to give her some space.”

Me: I need some advice tomorrow.

Mallet: I’m busy.

I laugh.

Gavin: I’m GREAT at that. Call me.

Kate: If it has anything to do with a girl, call me.

Chase: I don’t know why you fuckers think it’s acceptable to blow up my phone at two in the morning, but you can fuck right off.

Me: I need advice tomorrow, Chase. Can I come over?

Chase: No.

Me: How does ten o’clock work?

Chase: I’m turning my phone off.

Kate: Night.

I stand and switch the light off on my desk.

Me: Going to bed, too.

Kate: Love you, Lukie.

Gav: Night.

Mallet: See ya.

I slip my phone into my pocket and head to the house.

CHAPTER 23

Laina

I have an emotional hangover.

My body feels like I’ve run a mile, and my face gives me an idea of what it might be like to be in a street fight. Puffy eyes. Blotchy skin. A scowl that runs deep.

I’m in no mood for bullshit, yet I’ve caused my fair share of it recently. I lay awake in bed for most of the night and replayed everything Luke said.

“You know how much I fucking love you. You know my heart. Yet when things gethard, you expect me to hurt you.”

The look on his face when he spoke those words is imprinted in my brain. I hate myself for making him feel that way.

He was right when he said my instinct is to assume the worst. That’s such a shitty thing to do to other people, and it’s an even shittier thing to do to myself.

Luke’s note is on the kitchen table, telling me he was running to Chase’s and that we would talk when he gets back. He signed it with anI love you, which has to be a good sign.

I want so badly for it to be a good sign.

We need to talk. We need to stop ignoring the writing on the wall and pretending we can live in this bubble for the rest of our lives.Because we can’t. Our relationship will have complications, especially under the circumstances, and we need to work them out.