Page 70 of Would You Rather
“You’re getting emotional.” I narrow my eyes. “Stop that. It’s scaring me.”
“I’m serious,” she says with a laugh. “You were a mess freshman year.”
“Thanks,” I say dryly. “Remind me again why you’re my best friend.”
She shrugs. “Because I’m the best. Clearly. And I can tell when you’re deflecting. Stop avoiding the subject.”
Damn it. She really knows how to read me better than anyone. “I’m not avoiding it,” I lie. “I just know better than to get involved with someone again, okay?”
The mood sobers, and Gabi’s face drops. “Jesus.” She shakes her head. “Your ex really fucked you up, didn’t he?”
I close my eyes, letting out a sigh. “I don’t want to talk about this, Gabi.”
“It’s not good to avoid it either.”
I shake my head. “It’s not an easy thing to talk about.”
“About how that asshole treated you? Yeah, it’s not. That doesn’t mean I want to see you close yourself off to every guy that crosses your path. You’ve been so focused on class and trying to get an audition that you haven’t stopped to think about anything else.”
I’ve thought about it. I can’tstopthinking about it. But the problem is, I can’t let it happen. It can live in my mind where everything is safe and no one can hurt me ever again. “I don’t need a boyfriend.”
“No,” she agrees. “You don’t. But that doesn’t mean you don’t want one. I see how you look at Lucas, Madi. And the interview?” She shakes her head. “Come on. You like him.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “I’m not dying my hair if that’s what this is about.”
She chuckles. “It’s not. Although you’d look amazing in red.”
“I know,” I agree, with a smirk. “But it’s not happening.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” she says, glancing down at the pink box on my bed. “When he sees you in that dress on your date, I doubt he’s going to be able to keep his hands off you.”
“Not a date,” I repeat. “It’s—”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s fake,” she says, “But the fact remains, he won’t be able to stay away from you.”
I swallow down, thinking about Lucas’ reaction to me in this dress. What will I do if Gabi is right? I haven’t been with anyone in over four years, and I thought I’d never want to again. But now…
Gabi lifts herself off my bed, heading toward the door, but before she walks out, she turns around with a smirk. “Just make sure you use protection.”
Chapter 23
Couples share a bed, Princesa
“What do you mean there’s only one bed?”
“I’m sorry, Miss,” the lady at the counter says, checking over her screen. “The booking clearly states it’s one double room.”
Madi’s mouth is dropped open as she glances at me. Ana booked the room, so I didn’t know that we’d have to be sharing a room, let alone a bed, but I can’t say I’m distraught about it, either. “What are we going to do?” she asks me.
I shoot her a smirk. “Couples share a bed,princesa.”
Those gorgeous brown eyes narrow at me, and I chuckle to myself. “Really?” she asks. “That’s all you have to say?” She lets out a breath and turns to the lady. “I’ll just book a room for myself, then.”
“I’m sorry, Miss. The rooms are fully booked for tonight. With the gala happening, it books out weeks in advance.”
She squeezes her eyes closed, shaking her head. “So, there’s nothing we can do?”
The lady shakes her head.
