Page 103 of Before We're More Than Friends
“Are you talking about Dallas or Alex?”
“They’re the same person!” I threw my hands in the air, a few people looking at us with surprise. I lowered my voice. “When did you find out?”
“I . . .” Her words came out in a rush. “Well, when you first talked about things with him, I realized how many similarities his situation had with Dallas’s. I asked him some questions to get to know him better, but he sounded suspicious of me, so I stopped—which was my first sign that something was off. And when I came here Wednesday night with Gracelynn, I was getting my food when I heard Hayden tell Dallas to tell you the truth about being your pen pal. I mean, I already kind of knew Dallas and Alex were probably the same person, but that confirmed it.”
I gripped the table, trying to keep myself from going frantic. “And you weren’t going to tell me this?”
“I’m sorry!” Arielle said, and a few people looked at us again. “I was trying to drop hints because I wanted him to tell you himself or for you to figure it out on your own. It wasn’t my place to tell.”
“It is when you know I’m walking blind!” Hurt cut deep into my chest. First, my own best friend had been lying to me, and now my sister. “If I had known Hayden didn’t want to go out with you before you found out yourself, I would’ve told you as soon as possible.”
“Don’t bring that into this conversation,” she snapped. “I broke up with him anyway.”
“Why? Isn’t it the same thing? He didn’t confess because he didn’t want to hurt your feelings, and so did Dallas to me because . . .” I put my head in my hands, my chest aching with every breath. “It doesn’t matter what the reason was. Both of them lied.”
“Raina.” She got out of her seat to scoot next to me. “I’m sorry.” She put her hand on my shoulder, but I shrugged it away.
“No, I’m sorry I seem to be the butt of everyone’s jokes.” I shot my head up. “Oh, I’m sorry, the butt of everyone’slies.”
“Raina, I’m sorry,” Arielle said again. “I should’ve told you my suspicions from the beginning. I hope you can forgive me.”
“I will,” I said, gesturing for her to move so I could get out of the booth. “Just not now.” With that, I slung my cross-body purse over me. “Let’s go home.”Before I burst into tears in front of everyone.
“Okay.” Arielle cleaned our table off before following me out of the café.
“I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you,” she said once we were outside, the moonlight above way too bright for a night like this.
“I don’t want to talk anymore,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. I knew I was being cold, but I had a right to be upset. “Keeping things seems to run in the family.”
Arielle let out a sharp gasp. “You donotneed to go there, Raina.”
I faced her, walking backward to the car. “Well, I did.”
Even in the dark, I could see hurt wash over her face. Guilt twisted in my stomach, but it was too late to take back what I said.
It was too late to take anything back.
Arielle got in the car and started it once I buckled up, and she didn’t speak at all. Instead, she turned on one of the playlistsI’d shared with her and hummed along to my favorite Charm Street song.
But it still didn’t stop the tears from flowing down my cheeks once they started. After only a few minutes, I noticed she was crying too.
CHAPTER 25
Dallas
What did you wear when you were about to ruin an entire relationship? Asking for a friend.
Because I may possibly be my only friend after tonight.
I’d sealed the deal on Thursday after the Connections disaster. As much as I’d wanted to blurt out the truth on screen, it would’ve been as crappy as breaking up with someone over text. I hadn’t been following my morals well, but they weren’tthatshot.
Clearly, I should’ve done that instead.
There was no way Raina didn’t hate my guts. Especially since she hadn’t worn the bracelet yesterday. It tore me up knowing I’d hurt her so badly, not explaining anything yet, but now I stood here staring at half of my wardrobe on the floor, wishing I’d taken the easy way out.
“For crying out loud, just wear what you normally wear,” Toby said on FaceTime while I searched my closet for something nice to wear to the bonfire Oliver was hosting. He stuffed popcorn into his face as he watched TV with Buster. “If I were you, I’d want to look like crap since I’d already feel like crap.”
“Well, thanks. I know to always come to you for fashion advice.” Groaning, I slammed the closet door. “Maybe I shouldn’t even go.”
