Page 29 of Quarantine Crush

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“It’s true. You’d be a mess,” she agrees, eliciting more laughter from Knox.

My heart aches at the softness in his voice. The ache grows more intense as a feeling of betrayal wells within me. He just questioned me about Reed while leaving out the fact that he’s got a Nelle waiting for him.

And it’s not only the fact that he failed to mention her. Knox has always been upfront with me about girls he dates. Including the fact that the women in his life are casual, nothing more than a fling. If he’s keeping this one a secret, she must mean something to him. Now that I think about it, that’s really his m.o. anyway.

God, I’m an idiot.

I spin on my heel, racing for my room. I close the door as quietly as possible and click the lock. My eyes dart to the closet, but I refuse to hide in there again. Instead, I slip into the bathroom, pull out my phone, and ring my friends.

Taylor’s face is the first to pop up, her freckled nose crinkling as she sees where I am.

“Listen, I know we’re close, but if you’re calling us while dropping the kids off at the pool, we’re done.”

Hadley’s laughter sounds next as both she and Nina join the Skype.

“I’m not using the restroom, you freak. I’m hiding, so keep your voice down,” I hiss.

“Hey, ding dong. This is a call. Turn down the volume if you don’t want the hottie to hear us,” Hadley drawls.

“Shit. Yeah, forgot that,” I admit, biting my lip as I hurry to turn the volume down.

“So,” Hadley says. “Care to tell us why you’re hiding in the bathroom?”

“Many reasons,” I say, starting to list them on my fingers. “Knox was being weird because Reed brought me pasta. Then he started questioning me about whether Reed and I were dating or had dated. Then he started asking about my book. But the biggest reason I’m hiding is because I just heard Knox tell some British bitch that she was a goddess and he loved her.”

The words rush out of me with enough force to leave me breathless, but none of my friends comment. For a moment, they all stare back at me, wearing identical masks of shock.

“Whoa,” Nina finally says. “That’s a lot to unpack, babe.”

I nod, unsure what else to say.

“Okay, first, let’s talk about Reed, whose camp I am firmly in BT dubs,” Taylor says. “He brought you pasta?” she coos. “That’s foreplay if I’ve ever heard it.”

I groan, covering my face with my free hand.

“Hold up. What kind of monster are you, Taylor?” Hadley asks. “How can you not be team Knox? She’s been in love with him since she was thirteen. They have to end up together.”

“I’m with Hads on this one. It’s the perfect RomCom ending,” Nina chimes in.

“Except this isn’t a RomCom. This is my life,” I remind them. “And apparently, in my life, the guy I love ends up with a British goddess named Nelle.”

“Are you sure about her?” Nina asks. “Maybe you didn’t hear it correctly.”

“Oh, I heard it correctly,” I assure them. “She was all...What would you do without me? Do you love me? Ravish me over a bed of biscuits,” I say in a poor attempt of her accent. “She sounded way more fucking adorable than that though.”

“You know who doesn’t have a Nelle?” Taylor asks. “The sexy Italian who gives us free pasta.”

“Nice, Tay. Real helpful,” Nina chides.

“Okay, I’ve got a plan,” Hadley says. I hold up a hand to stop her.

“No. No more plans. I love you, Hads, but your plans are terrible–and even if they weren’t, I am done putting myself out there for Knox Jacobs.”

My friends stare back at me with sad eyes that mirror my own.

“I just needed a second to vent. Thanks for being there for me.”

“We’re always here for you,” Taylor says.