Page 49 of As You Walk On

I was almost out the door. Back downstairs. Looking for my friends and Christian. No more insults from Aleah. No River leaving me bankrupt during Monopoly. Luca was going to be just another boy at school again.

Now I’m watching him comfort Makayla.

“Are you okay?” Aleah finally asks.

Makayla’s eyes flutter. “Do you care?”

Aleah exhales like she wants to scream. I feel the same, but for different reasons. “Why are you like this?” she says.

“Me?” Makayla’s pitch rises as if she’s surprised.

“Yes. You.” Aleah rolls her eyes. “The same you who stopped talking toeveryoneat Kenzie’s Halloween Bash when you found out Ashton lied about the veggie burgers?”

“I have a food allergy to sesame!”

“You locked yourself in a bathroom and cried,” Aleah says flatly.

“I could’ve died!”

I watch as Aleah’s body trembles with laughter she can’t contain. Makayla tries to fight her own, but it doesn’t work. She snorts so hard, her hair flies over her face.

Aleah kicks her foot. “And who showed up with an antihistamine and a bottle of water, waiting for you to calm the hell down?”

Eyes closed, Makayla replies, “The same girl who wouldn’t let me hold her hair when she got sick after the Ballers made it to the semis for the first time in...”

“Ten years,” Aleah finishes with a smile I haven’t seen in forever. Soft and wide, almost crooked on the left side.

Just as quickly as it appears, Aleah shakes it off. “One, don’t touch my hair.” She holds up her index finger. Then her middle one. “Two, the tequila came in a plastic bottle. That’s vile. Three, everyone in here didn’t need to know that!”

“I kind of did,” Luca whispers.

Aleah gives him a swift side-eye. To Makayla, she says, “I’m just checking to see if you’re okay” with a low, gentle tone.

“Yes.” Makayla shrugs. “It’s all gossip, anyway. I’m used to it.”

“Doesn’t make it right,” says River.

A tiny smile stirs across Makayla’s lips. Like no one’s ever said that before. She tucks hair behind her ear before continuing her play-by-play with Aleah of their past hangouts.

I lean against the wall. Outside the door, a Megan Thee Stallion song plays. My head bobs along. It’s a failed diversion tactic asMakayla’s and Aleah’s laughter echoes louder than the music.

The back of my neck prickles. Am I really salty about their friendship? About the way they can brush off whatever’s happened lately? Do I have any right to be upset when I’m the one who fucked up things with Aleah? I mean, technically, Mario and Dad did. At least, that’s what I’ve told myself for years.

No. I’m being ridiculous. Good for Makayla and Aleah. They can stay BFFs. After all, I have the same connection with TNT. Finishing each other’s sentences. Inside jokes. Embarrassing party stories. Deep, personal secrets.

Theo’s a chill guy. At least I’ve heard. Gay, right?

I don’t think he’s a creep.

I don’t have any problems with dudes likethat.

Cole’s words rotate around in my skull. They’re accompanied by Jay’s silence. By the things he could’ve—should’ve—said but didn’t.

I tug out my phone. It’s been an hour since I first crept upstairs. Too long.

I’m supposed to be with Christian, not with semi-strangers and an ex–best friend.

Unlocking the screen, I pull up my web browser. Time to solidify my plans for accomplishing this dare. But when my tabs load, I’m met with the last one I had open.

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