Felicity“I think I’m in hell.”“No,” Hailee said, “that’s just your hangover talking.”“Don’t say that word. It’s evil.”“What did your mom say?”“Oh, I hid out in the bathroom until she left for work. But if I don’t make it through the day, I’m ready to fake a stomach flu. So ready.”“That was some impressive display last night.” She gave me a pointed look; one I felt all the way down to the pit of my stomach.“Honestly, I don’t know what to say.” My cheeks flushed.“You could start with the truth.”“I’m not sure you’re ready to hear it.” I peeked over at her while the rest of the student population filed down the hall, moving to their classes.“Hey,” she grabbed my hand, “It’s okay. You don’t need to protect me. I know you like him. I know he likes you—”“He doesn’t like me, Hails.” My head shook side to side. “I’m just a game to him.”A game I could never win.“So what was last night then?”“What do you mean?”“I mean, why did my pig-headed step-brother pretty much carry you out o

“Maybe that’s why he was off his game.” It would make sense. Everyone knew there was no love lost between Jason and his father, despite the united front Mr. Ford liked to present to everyone.Jason’s dad moved to the lectern, brushing down the lapels of his dinner jacket. He looked good, much like an older Jason. Same unruly brown hair, same dark intense eyes. But age had mellowed him, or maybe that was Hailee’s mom. Either way, he looked happy. He looked like a man content with life. A man in love.I found Hailee’s mom in the outer row of seats. She beamed at her husband, radiating happiness. “Look at your mom,” I said quietly.“I’d rather not,” Hailee groaned.“Hey.” I took her hand under the table. “She’s happy. They’re happy. I know she hurt you, but you can’t help who you fall in love with.” God, I sounded like Mya and Asher. I knew Hailee carried a lot of resentment toward her mom and the lies she’d told. But if I’d learned anything over the last few weeks, it was that sometimes

“For you, maybe, but she’s got that look.” He glanced back again but I didn’t look, not this time. “And we both know you don’t need that shit right now.”“Do me a favor, Grady?”“Yeah?”“Shut the fuck up.”His expression fell. “Sorry, man, I’m just yanking your chain.” We moved up the line, loading our plates with barbecue. “Did you decide how to deal with the Thatcher problem yet?”Shaking my head, I glared at him. Hard.“Shit, my bad. I’m just concerned he’s going to lure you into doing something real fucking stupid.”“Why don’t you worry about you and leave Thatcher to me, yeah?”“Sure, Jase, I just—”“Let. It. Go,” I hissed.“Whatever you say, man.” He held up his hands. “This barbecue looks good.”“So let’s eat.”And forget all about Felicity and Thatcher.After everyone had stuffed their faces, we all settled down again. The clink of Coach’s fork against his glass ushered everyone into silence. I pulled at the collar of my shirt. It felt like it was getting tighter by the second

Tears pricked the corners of my eyes, but I would not cry, not in front of him. He didn’t deserve my tears.Not a single one.“Why are doing this? Why are you being so cruel? You care, Jason,” I said, steeling myself, “I know you do. You’re just scared. Scared of letting yourself feel something. Well, newsflash, I’m scared too. But I’m here. I’m willing to take a risk on you. On us.” My chest heaved with the weight of the words but Jason looked unaffected.Indifferent.“There is no us.” His sharp words made me flinch. “Why can’t you just accept that?”“Because I don’t believe you. Last night—”“You think last night meant something?” He sneered, the harshness of his stare like a hundred tiny daggers cutting into my skin. “I was doing Hailee a favor and saving everyone anymore embarrassment. You were a fucking mess.”The words crashed over me, making my heart lurch into my throat. Blood pounded between my ears.A fucking mess.He hadn’t saved me because he cared… he’d saved me out of pi

“I don’t have to answer to you.” My eyes narrowed.“You’re right, you don’t. But I’m asking anyway.” Hailee glared right back. “Why? Why did you do that to her?”“Am I supposed to know what the fuck you’re talking about?”Her nostrils flared, a streak of pink coloring each cheek. My step-sister was pissed and instead of trying to cool the flames, I was stoking them. But she didn’t have the first fucking clue about why I did the things I did.No one did.“Felicity came to Seniors Night for you,” she hissed. “To be there for you. And you went and threw it back in her face. I know the two of you have been meeting. I know she slept with you… again. I know everything.”It wasn’t her harsh tone that had me internally flinching, it was the fact Felicity had told her everything. Things I’d thought had been just between the two of us. Not that it mattered now.None of it did.“Yeah, well, it’s over.”“Are you even listening to yourself? You were seeing her in secret… why?”“I don’t—”“Because