Page 75 of He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

I wish it felt like nothing, but it doesn’t.

‘Don’t do something stupid,’ River warns me. ‘He’s my best friend. This’ – he motions between the two of us – ‘is a no go.’

Mercy intentionally jabs him in the ribs with her elbow. ‘Oh, sorry,’ she says with a sly grin. ‘Did I get ya?’

River glares at her. She’s a master of distraction.

‘The count is in, folks!’ Jillian says with a wide grin. ‘I had a feeling too. Dax and Hollyn! You’re our winners overwhelmingly this week!’

Our friends and family cheer. Dax and I glance at each other wide eyed. ‘We did it,’ he says, setting my hand back on my knee with a squeeze.

‘Youdid it.’

‘Now for the bad news.’ Jillian’s voice interrupts us. ‘Marley, despite the fact you weren’t in my predicted bottom two, the voters weren’t convinced and unfortunately you won’t be joining us next week.’

‘Sorry, Marley,’ I say with a guilty grin, ‘Dax deserves this.’

He beams, shaking his head as though I’ve embarrassed him. Seeing him so thrilled with winning makes it all worth it.

* * *

Later That Night…

When we get home, I go straight to River’s room and drop face-first onto his bed. My phone is filled with texts from Tristan, who somehow heard about the show and texted me while he watched the live results tonight. I didn’t realize it until we were on the way home.

‘What is up with you?’ Dax asks, stopping in the doorway. ‘Did I do something wrong? Say something I shouldn’t have? Was it the hand-holding thing again?’ He sounds worried.

I roll over with a sigh, now staring at the ceiling. ‘Truthfully, that was my favorite part.’ I sit up. ‘It’s nothing you did.’

‘Then what? You haven’t said a word in forty-five minutes, and you hardly talked back at the bar. I’m sensing something’s up.’

I plaster a fake grin on my face. ‘I’m fine.’

‘Stop lying and dish it out, girl,’ he says, walking into River’s room and sitting on the edge of the bed next to me.

‘Tristan saw the show and has been texting me. And Victoria.’

‘Who’s Victoria?’

‘Victoria was my college roommate and best friend in Seattle.’

‘Alright,’ Dax says. ‘What did Professor Douchwagon have to say now?’

‘No,’ I say. ‘We should be celebrating you. You won week one! That’s huge.’ I stand from the bed, throwing my arms out looking as excited as I can. Because I am. Unfortunately, Tristan and Victoria in my head are beating away the reaction I’d like to have.

He cocks his head, lifting his eyebrows in a way that says he’s not going anywhere until I’ve told him everything.

I sit back down next to him with a huff. ‘You don’t have to listen to my problems.’

‘I know I don’thaveto. I want to.’

‘Why?’

‘We’re friends. Try me; maybe I can help?’

‘It’s humiliating.’

‘I once held your hair while you yakked under a tree at a high school party. I can handle it.’

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