Page 115 of Before We're More Than Friends
Dad sighed. “Some days are easier than others.”
“You shouldn’t make her feel so bad about it.”
“Right, because I’m the problem,” he grumbled, getting up from the table as well. “I’m always the problem.”
Kami and I exchanged a worried look. Dad often had the upper hand in the relationship, making most of the decisions for the family. I started to wonder if there was a power imbalance that was causing him to fight with Mom. He was never sunshine and rainbows, but he was never constantly on edge either. The thought made my stomach pinch.
Why did everything have to fall apart at once?
Hayden was waiting at my locker when I arrived at school. When he saw me, the dark brown in his eyes grew wide.
“Where the hell have you been?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest. “I blew up your phone on every app I could find you on and knocked on your door.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, a wave of guilt washing over me. It was official—I was the worst person ever. “I stayed in my room and kept my notifications off. But I needed time to myself.”
“I mean, I get it, but I was worried sick about you.” He sighed. “At least let me know next time so I don’t have a heart attack.”
“I’m sorry,” I said again, really meaning it. “Still friends?”
“Of course.” Hegave me a fist bump. “Always will be.”
I exhaled, some of the tension in my chest loosening. “Good. I don’t want to hurt anyone else.”
“Yeah, you did a number on Raina, that’s for sure.”
I flinched. “I’m not ready to see her again.”
“I know, but I’m proud of you for finally getting the truth out. That took a lot of courage. And balls.”
“I’m not proud of myself.” I scratched my forehead. “I should transfer schools and find a new shelter.”
Hayden’s thin brows furrowed. “Didn’t running away from your problems get you in this mess?”
I groaned. “I hate how right you are.”
He shrugged. “It takes a lot of being wrong to be right.” He looked up at my head. “Gosh, did you even brush your hair this morning?”
“I’m surprised I even managed to put on clothes,” I muttered. “I was not in the freaking mood.”
“I can tell.”
“Hey.”
Hayden and I walked through the hallways before English class, talking about what happened Saturday night. Apparently, Oliver had cut the bonfire short after I’d left, which made guilt engulf my stomach. It’d been my first bonfire with everyone, and I’d literally killed the flame.
At lunch, Hayden and I talked to Oliver and Caleb about the whole thing, and I apologized for ruining everything. They seemed more concerned about me than anything else, and it made me feel even worse about being a bad friend.
How had I lived with a guilty conscience for so long?
After lunch, the moment I’d been dreading all day had finally come. Hayden quickly squeezed my hand before I followed him into the Chemistry room.
As always, Raina was already sitting at the table, her head down as she scribbled in her notebook, her glossy lips pursed asshe concentrated. Gosh, why did she have to look so freaking stunning in every situation?
I swallowed the lump in my throat and sat beside her. “Hey.”
She didn’t bother to look up at me before shifting away, using her body to obstruct the view of what she was writing in her notebook. Whatever she was writing clearly had nothing to do with Chemistry.
The only type of chemistry between us was our fatal attraction.
