Page 66 of Barefoot Dreams
“Okay, okay, this is bad but also kind of good,” he says mostly to himself. “So, now you know. But I don’t understand where’s the emergency? Why are you still sitting on the floor moping around?” he asks.
“What do you mean? Wait, you knew about all this?” I gesture at the words in front of me.
“Duh, I’m her best friend, remember? Now, go get your girl!”
I look at him, blankly. “She hates me.”
“Who told you that?” he asks, and I point at the diary in front of me. “Well, seeing as I have some manners, I won’t read that. So, you can just cliff note it for me.”
Luke snorts. “Because that’s so much better.”
“Can you all just leave?”
“The date here says they were in high school when this happened.” Alec suddenly speaks up, and in a flash, all three of us are on him, slapping the diary out of his hands.
“Ow! What is wrong with you all? I was just checking the date!”
“Alec, step away from the diaries,” Jacob tells his friend. “Now, you”—he turns to me—“are you seriously dying because of something that happened when you were, what, fifteen and seventeen?” Jacob asks, his brows furrowed.
“And they call me dramatic,” Alec supplies quietly.
I don’t respond. I don’t say anything as a matter of fact, because what is there to say?
I lost the best damn thing that ever happened to me. I can’t take whatever I’ve done back so, now I’ll just have to move on. Live my life with knowledge that I once again fucked up. That it’s all my fault.
I need out of here.
“Where are you going?” Luke asks when I finally snatch the stupid jacket from the table.
“Work.”
“Work? What about Julie?”
“Nothing about Julie. She has a boyfriend. And it’s not me. And even if she wouldn’t, there’s no way, she’d want it to be. So drop it. All of you. I’m moving on. Or away, actually. I’m fine. It’s all fine. Just…fine.”
I slam the door behind me but still hear Alec say, “He’s so not fine.”
Love Hive:
Infullbloom:I’m so excited I can pop! But do you guys think they’ll go for it?
Ninasunshine:That’s why we’ll need to get a much larger group, or they’ll get all suspicious.
CookieJ:Agreed. Joy still watches me like a hawk. You’d think my daughter would be grateful for all the help with our Jackie, but noooo, she still sends death glares our way.
Willoflove:I’ll make her my special happy brew.
Joydon’tpissmeofflevine:You all do know we can see this chat, right? You didn’t close it!
CookieJ:Oh, poopie crap! JOY THIS IS NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!
Joydon’tpissmeofflevine:Hm, really? Because it sure seems like you’re meddling again. When is it going to be enough for you, woman? You got all three of your daughters set up.
CookieJ:Never!
Burnyourheart:You need to put this plan in motion now!
Ninasunshine:Alec! Did you steal your brother’s phone again?
