Page 113 of Before We're More Than Friends
Sienna held up a hand. “I promise it’s pure talent.”
“It’s pronounced horse?—”
“Smarts.”
“Horse smarts?” I snorted. “That one really came out of your?—”
“Awesome brain.” Sienna smirked.
“You guys are ridiculous,” Arielle said, rolling her eyes.
“That’s why we came,” Gracelynn said. “Raina needs to smile.”
I smiled. “Thank you.”
We finished the game of UNO, distracted from our conversation about Dallas. As always, Sienna ended up winning, and Gracelynn frowned, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Don’t be a sore loser,” Sienna said, punching Gracelynn in the elbow.
“Gosh.” Gracelynn rubbed her arm. “How much have you been hanging out with Caleb?” Caleb and Gracelynn used to always punch each other’s arms like that. Before making out, of course.
Sienna collected the cards together to play another round. “I don’t like that he annoys you, but he is a fun guy.”
“Sure he is.” Gracelynn forced a laugh, but her muscles tensed. Maybe our conversation about my fallout with Dallas had brought up memories of her breakup with Caleb. She was the one who dumped him, but since they had been best friends their whole lives, living next door to each other, Caleb didn’t take it well at all.
Though it hadn’t been smart of Gracelynn to date his now ex-best friend after they broke up.
Last year was full of bad relationships and decisions.
And this year wasn’t going any better.
“Stop thinking about it,” Gracelynn said as Sienna shuffledthe next deck. “It’s over. After next summer, I’ll never have to see him again.” She bit her lip. “Maybe even sooner.”
Sienna raised an eyebrow as she gave us our cards. “Don’t get any big ideas.”
“Just saying,” Gracelynn said before looking at her cards. “Seriously?”
“Not rigged,” Sienna sang.
Arielle and I exchanged an eye roll but smiled. We hadn’t talked since last night, and I was still upset about what happened on Friday, but I’d slowly warm up to her again. Some things took more time than others.
CHAPTER 27
Dallas
Iroamed in the dark for at least half an hour, ignoring my phone as it constantly buzzed in my pocket. Once my legs started aching, I sat at the root of a tree and cried my eyes out, wishing I could go back to Dallas and sit in my Texas Ash Tree instead. Wishing I could never see anyone here again.
Kami soon found me and drove us home without making me say goodbye to anyone. The last thing I needed was for my new friends, who I’d consistently lied to about me and Raina, to see me covered in snot and tears.
I hadn’t even made it to March before everything collapsed.
I’d skipped going to the shelter on Sunday, knowing I wasn’t in the right headspace to take care of animals. It was the first time I’d missed a scheduled day of volunteering.
The delusional part of me hoped if I stayed in bed all day, I’d wake up with amnesia.
On Monday, Kami opened my door around six thirty in the morning. The sun hadn’t peeked out behind the curtains yet, and I wanted nothing more than to stay in the eternal darkness.
“Mom wants you to get ready for school,” Kami said as she opened my door. “You already had a full day to recover.”
