Page 90 of Zero Chance

“By not even giving Alec the courtesy of a heads-up that he might even be remotely interested in you, he basically just shouted it aloud to all of us that he doesn’t respect what we think.He doesn’t care?—”

“Yes, he does.”

“No,” I started, but she wouldn’t let me continue.

“He didn’t want to evenlikeme,” she insisted.“But I put him into an impossible situation.I threw the dying card in his face and promised him it would only be one time and no one would ever know about it because I’d be gone and he’d just be granting me my dying wish.It would’ve been no different than if I’d asked him for a million dollars before I died.How could he have said no to that?”

I squinted, thinking it through before I shrugged.“I mean, he could’ve been like, ‘Yo, Younger.I’m granting your sister a quick dying wish.No big deal.’”

“Except I wasn’t ready for Alec to know I wasdyingyet.And then feelings got involved, and one time turned into two, and I ended up not dying at all; everything just kind of blew up in our faces.We totally fucked up how we should’ve handled it; I know that.Heknows that.And trust me, he regrets it.But this one situation should not be a precedent for you to review your entire friendship with him.I mean, tell me honestly.Has there ever beenanothertime he’s dropped the ball as your friend?”

There were plenty of occasions he’d been a supreme dick, but that was just Parker’s sunny personality.When it had mattered, shit yes, he’d always been there.He’d always come through.

Except when he’d refused to tell me who Mystery Girl was, which was kind of a sticking point for me.

So I snorted, saying, “Yeah.When he wouldn’t give me a name that Ifranklydeserve to know.”

Hope winced.“That’s not because he doesn’twantto tell you,” she promised.“It’s just— hecan’t.He’s protecting someone else, and besides, it’s not his secret to tell.”

My mind whirled, trying to puzzle through that explanation.But who the fuck else would be under Ohrley’s protection?What girl who was roughly in our age range but wasn’t one of the girlfriends would he even remotely care about?

I had no idea, so I hopefully hedged, “Canyoutell me?”

She shook her head.“No, sorry.But if it makes you feel better, you did a good thing that night.Whatever you and your mystery girl shared out there in the dark, she needed it.”As I sat up straighter, shocked to hearthat, Hope kept talking.“It helped her with confidence issues and other things in a way nothing else could.You should be proud of yourself.”

Lips parting, I shook my head, really intrigued now, only to blurt, “If I did such a great thing, why the fuck is she hiding from me?”

Hope laughed.“Really?”Eyebrows arching, she shook her head.“Because she’s mortified.Hello.She tricked you into thinking she was someone else.Trust me when I say that isnotsomething she does.I think she’s as horrified with herself as she is thrilled that she got the chance to be with you.”

That comment made me furrow my brow in confusion.Butthrilledfor a chance to be with me, huh?What the hell did that evenmean?I wasn’t exactly a hard guy to catch.Honestly, I couldn’t remember a single time I’d turned a female down when she’d hit on me.If Mystery Girl had been interested, all she’d had to do was tell me.

Unless she truly, honestly believed she didn’t stand a chance.Which made me remember what Alec had surmised.

“Your brother thinks she’s got to be…” But even thinking about mentioning Alec’s guess aloud sounded shitty to me.Except I’d already started talking, and Hope was watching me with an expectant look, so I just sighed and mumbled, “Homely.”

Hope huffed out an amused sound and rolled her eyes.“Of course he does.”When her gaze strayed back to me, she winked.“Don’t worry, Sneezy.She’s beautiful.Inside and out.”

I released a breath I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding, and excitement poured through me.“I’m going to find her,” I promised aloud.

She grinned.“I’m counting on it.Things are going to turn very…interesting when you do.”

Eager restlessness nipped at the heels of my excitement.“You’ve definitely piqued my curiosity.”

With a laugh, she pointed.“I think that’s another reason why Parker didn’t want to come right out and tell you.You’re a clever little ass.He knew you’d figure it out on your own, and with as much as you like solving mysteries, you’d have more fun sniffing her out this way, anyhow.”

I scoffed grumpily, even as I admitted to myself that she was probably right.I ended up tipping my head to reluctantly agree with her.“Yeah, maybe.”

She watched me a moment longer before murmuring, “So?Are you going to forgive him or not?”

Groaning, I let my head fall back on the headboard because of course she was still on that issue.“Let’s just say I’m not going to be the one who goes to him,” I said.“But if he comes to me, I won’t be a dick to him anymore.”

Bobbing her head once, Hope seemed satisfied with my answer.“Thank you,” she said.

I studied her for a moment before admitting, “Being with him has changed you.”

A sudden glow took over her face as she smiled.“For the better, I hope.”

I snorted.“Oh, hell yes.”

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