Page 69 of Zero Chance

“Oh my God,” he muttered with a roll of his eyes so big I’m surprised his eyeballs didn’t get stuck in the top of his head.“Stop being dramatic.I’ll be fine.”

“Oh my God,” I shot back with the exact same snark he’d used.“I don’t care.Get your shoes on, grab some snacks to take with you, and let’s go.”

“Are you serious?You’re really making me do this?”

“Yes.”Turning away, I started from the room, relieved when I heard him fling himself moodily off the bed and grumble, “Fine,” as I left.Because I wasn’t sure what I would’ve done if he’d absolutely refused to go.

Back in my room, I changed out of my comfy, around-the-house loungers, and tugged on a pair of black jeans and a black, long-sleeved turtleneck.Picking up my brush, I turned toward the mirror, only to jump again when I got another look at my new bangs.

I’d just pulled on some shoes when I picked up my phone, determined not to forget it again.I texted Mom to let her know I’d be at work with Gates.

She sent back a thumbs-up, as if irritated I was bothering her with my schedule when I knew she would’ve had a cow and started text-bombing me if she’d seen us leaving the house without telling her where we were going first.

I’ll float you a loan if you want out.

Parker’s offer from the night before reverberated through my head, and I briefly envisioned what my life would look like if I finally left the nest.At first, it seemed euphoric.Decorating the front room of some cozy college apartment however I wanted.Pulling whatever food I wanted from the fridge.Having a kitchen with no island… The vision drew me in before I pictured my phone constantly ringing, Mom being there as soon as I opened my door to leave, her nitpicking over what I needed to change as she inspected my bathroom.

Yeah, I wasn’t going anywhere untilshewas ready for me to leave.

Suddenly, that goat farm in Sweden sounded more enticing than ever.

I started to slide my phone into my back pocket, only for it to ring.

Shit.I hope she didn’t have a problem with me taking Gates to work after all.Then, I’d have to decide who I was going to disappoint: her or my boss.And I just wasn’t equipped to make those kinds of awful decisions.I preferred it when I madeeveryonehappy.

But I blinked in shock when I saw Xander’s name instead.

“Hello?”I answered, biting my lip and hoping I hadn’t scared her off last night after telling her way too much about myself.

Expecting a heavy sigh and something along the lines of,I’m sorry, Waverly.I just can’t do this friendship thing with you anymore.I jolted when instead she gushed, “Oh…my God, Frankie.I have so much to tell you.”

And just like that, my stomach sank.“He knows,” I guessed, already wondering how long it would take me to get a passport.

“What?No.”I could actually picture Xander waving out a dismissive hand and rolling her eyes over my guess.“He’s still so clueless it’s almost comical.But, uh, first things first.Do you happen to have a tattoo?Of a feather?On the side of your wrist?”

“Um…” I squinted, wondering what that had to do with anything.“Yes.Why?”

“Shit,” she muttered as if she had bad news.“So yeah, you’re probably going to want to wear long sleeves for the rest of your life because Keene saw your tat last night.”

“What?No.”I gasped, finding it suddenly impossible to breathe.“How?”

“Not entirely sure,” Xander reported.“It had something to do with the real Makayla showing up and turning on a light or something.I don’t know.But did you, like, lift your hand toward him to block him from seeing your face?”

“I don’t know,” I moaned in total panic mode.“Maybe.Wait.Yes.Oh God.He probablydidsee the tattoo.What do I do?”

“No idea.Wear a watch over it?Or bracelets?Or, ooh, you could cover it with a bandage and say you burned it on the stove.”

“I’m moving to Sweden,” I announced decisively.

Xander laughed.“Or that.But I vote for long sleeves.I’d miss you too much if you left me.Besides, I refuse to lose another person to Europe.So, yeah, no.You’re not going anywhere.”

“You’re mean,” I pouted.

“Oh, yeah?”she taunted, sounding more smug than upset about my insult.“Bet you won’t be saying that when I spill the rest of the tea I have for you.”

“What?”I demanded.“Oh God, he’s blabbed all about it, hasn’t he?”I sank onto my bed and gripped my stomach, feeling queasy.

“Well, obviously,” Xander threw out in such a disparaging way I had to frown over her lack of concern for my poor nerves.“But get this,” she went on, getting straight to the meat of whatshethought was important.“You totally rocked his world last night.”

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