Page 80 of Deeper

“What’s wrong?” I went straight up to her as our coworkers breezed by without a second thought.

Holliston ran her hand through her hair, shaking it a bit for style. “Nothing, I’m good.”

Despite her denial, I followed her to the time clock where she clocked in. “Bullshit, Holly.”

She went over to her locker and dialed in the combination before opening the door and storing her mini backpack inside and grabbing her name badge she wore on a bright teal lanyard.

“Jake and I got into a fight, and now he wants a break,” Holliston said. “I think there’s someone else.”

She stood there, staring at her locker, willing herself not to cry it seemed.

Sympathy had me going and wrapping my arms around her. “It’s okay, Holly. Forget him.”

“But I love him.” She looked at me with wet eyes. “Why can’t he love me back?”

I smoothed back her hair and focused on its softness as I collected the right thing to say. “He doesn’t deserve you. One of the biggest lessons we learn in life is to not love people who abuse us without remorse, who use us for their pleasure, and who leave us when we need them the most.”

Holliston sniffed. “I’m only nineteen. Promise me I won’t be this dumb in my twenties?”

I nudged her. “Nah, we’ve all played the fool before. It happens. That’s what life is all about, growing and learning. I’m twenty-five and just left a really bad relationship for good myself. It only gets harder when you don’t try, and that’s all you can do.”

Holliston did her best to wipe her face and make herself presentable for work. To do my part in lifting her mood, I went into my locker, grabbed my bag, and gathered theRolling Stone.

“Well, it’s not much, but maybe this’ll cheer you up.”

I handed over the magazine and watched as her face morphed into pure shock.

Holliston’s mouth fell open. “Oh… My… God.” She gaped up at me, her blue eyes enlarged. “How?”

“Zander was doing radio promo on Friday and we ran into him. I sorta figured you’d never forgive me if I didn’t try to get his autograph.”

Holliston clutched the magazine to her chest. “Thank you. Oh my God. What was he like?”

I thought about how shady Teddy had been, debating if I wanted to defame his image to Holliston. It had been nice of him to sign the magazine with more than just his name.

“Complicated,” I decided to say. “I would’ve gotten a picture for you, but Zander finished his interview and things got crazy.”

“How so?”

“Teddy was being snarky and it really pissed Zander off. They had to drag him out of the building before he did something reckless. Even on the way home he wanted to turn around.”

“Whoa.” Holliston’s face suddenly crumbled. “Wait, is that why he covered Teddy’s song for his wholeZaturdaything?”

He went through with it.Good. “Oh, he did?”

“You don’t follow him online?”

“God no.” I tried to play it cool, like it was totally blasé to be with Zander and I wasn’t all that interested.

Holliston wasn’t convinced. “Don’t pretend you don’t like him now.”

“Anyway,” I pushed forward, “what song did he cover?”

“?‘Leaving.’ It’s a sad ballad. He did a really good job, almost better than Teddy, but definitely just as good.”

I did a fist pump, feeling proud.

Zander: 1

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