Chapter 03.2

Brian quickly turned on the console and picked a racing game. In this one, we could block each other, and he also added computer opponents so it wouldn’t just be the two of us on the track. We chose the same car to keep things fair.

“You can start,” Brian said, handing us the controllers.

The race began. Jenny was doing surprisingly well. We kept blocking each other, and the AI cars were getting in our way too. She was in the lead all the way to the final stretch—until one of the computer cars hit her just before the finish line, slowing her down. I came in fourth. She finished sixth.

“Well, at least that was a fair race,” Jenny laughed. “I’ll be waiting for you at the airport. Just let me know your flight time.”

“You’d have to let me message you for that,” I pointed out. She started to fidget.

“Just tell Brian or Amber,” she said quickly. Something in her was still running from me. “Sorry, everyone,” she added suddenly, jumping up. “I have to get ready for the wedding. We’ll talk later. Bye!”

She disappeared from the house as quickly and quietly as she had arrived. The girls exchanged glances, looked at me, and headed into the kitchen.

“What was that all about?” I asked, sinking onto the couch. “Why is she avoiding me? And why are the girls so distant?”

“You really have no idea?” Brian asked.

“Are they still punishing me for the breakup?” I asked. Brian just sighed.

“That’s part of it—how you left her during the breakup,” Paul said. “But I handled it. I picked Jane up and took her to our place. But Daniel was furious that you didn’t take her home yourself.”

“You picked her up?” I asked, surprised. He nodded.

“She knew I’d be downtown that day, and just as I was finishing up, she messaged me. Asked if I could pick her up in front of Amber’s shop. She was already waiting when I got there. But I saw you too—in the mirror, running out.”

“Then what’s the problem?” I asked.

“The problem is that you’re dating Helen,” Aaron said pointedly. “We all know about your girlfriend—and that you’re just toying with Jane.”

“But I’m not dating anyone—and definitely not toying with Jenny,” I snapped. “I thought you knew me better than that,” I added, looking at Brian.

“I’m sorry, Jay,” Brian said quietly. “I tried to convince the girls you were telling the truth—but no one believes you. Especially not after New Year’s Eve.”

“We believed Brian too,” Aaron added, “but your nonsense affects us as well.”

“How so?”

“Almost everyone’s on Jane’s side,” Brian sighed.

“I didn’t even know there were sides,” I muttered.

“Your side is pretty small,” Brian laughed. “Paul believes you, but obviously he’s on Jane’s side.”

“I just don’t want to keep arguing with Jessica,” Aaron said.

“Same here with Diane,” Daryl added, glancing toward the girls.

“I’m on your side,” Brian said. “But Mayoko and I have had arguments about it since New Year’s.”

“You mean a lot of arguments,” I corrected him. Brian just nodded.

I sighed and stood up. I was starting to understand what Dad meant by the damage I’d caused.

I walked over to the girls. The guys followed.

“Listen,” I said as the girls turned toward me.”I’m really sorry for being an idiot, but I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“At first, Jane doubted it too—she believed my brother,” Susy said calmly. “But on New Year’s, when she asked you directly, you admitted it. She told us that morning.”

“She was there on New Year’s?” I asked, surprised. “What was she doing there?”

“She messaged me just after midnight,” Paul said. “Said she wanted to come over, but asked me to let her in without anyone seeing. I let her in through the terrace, and she snuck up to her room.”

“I brought her some food,” Susy smiled. “We had a girls’ night,” she laughed.

“More like a girls’ early morning,” Mayoko added with a laugh.

“And I got to sleep in a different guest room,” Brian chimed in.

“A chick magnet like you can’t possibly go months without a girl,” Jessica said snidely.

“Her name isn’t Helen, by the way—it’s Harper,” I began. The girls flinched. “And there’s nothing between us. I tried, but after a few seconds, I felt guilty. I exaggerated the story a bit.”

“Then you’re just a jerk,” Jessica muttered. I couldn’t argue with that.

“I want Jenny to come on the summer trip so I can fix all of this,” I said. “If she still wants that.”

“She went on her last date just last week,” Jessica noted. Paul sighed.

“I didn’t know,” I said, my stomach tightening again.

“Let’s sit down,” Paul gestured to everyone, and we all returned to the living room and sat down.