Page 76 of Before We're More Than Friends
She nodded as she opened the cage next to mine. “What was your favorite thing about home?”
“The memories,” I said, trying to ignore the sadness weighing on my chest. “Especially with my best friend.”
“I’m sorry you had to move,” Arielle said with sincerity in her voice as she wiped down the cage, wincing at the disgusting walls. “Anything else?”
“Why do you ask?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Just getting to know you.” She gave me a smile that seemed genuine, but there was something she wasn’t telling me. I, of all people, would know. “We haven’t talked much.”
“Okay,” I said, keeping my tone indifferent.
Now she raised an eyebrow at me as if I was the one who was up to something. “What?”
I see what you’re trying to do. I didn’t know how much Raina had talked about me—Alex—to Arielle, but if Raina had said something that made her think of me, I wouldn’t have been surprised. Everyone had picked up on the weird way I acted around her, and if Arielle knew the slightest bit of information about Alex, she could put two and two together.
And I’d be done for if she did.
“Okay,” I repeated, paying more attention to the dirty cage in front of me than to her.
“Did I make you uncomfortable?” She was way too good at playing innocent if she really was up to something.
“No, I’m just thinking about my best friend. We used to do tasks like this together.”
“Aw.” There went that nod. “What’s his name?”
Yeah, there was no denying it. She wanted to connect the dots. “Connor.” It was Toby’s middle name, but I knew I hadn’t shared that with Chloe. I took out my phone and scrolled through my favorites. “Here’s a picture of us and our dogs, Dave and Austin.”Dave and Austin? Buster and Houston? Seriously?
“Aww, they’re adorable.” Arielle beamed.
I fought the urge to smirk. I knew I had to keep things consistent so I didn’t get tangled in this web of lies, but it wouldn’t be hard. But as I cleaned the cages, worries filled my head.
What if she tells everyone else about Connor?
What if she talks to Kami or my mom about Austin, only to realize that his name is Houston? What if she still knows I’m lying anyway?
Gosh, I took back what I said. This web of lies was going to choke me while I was still in it, but I was too much of a chicken to escape in time.
I didn’t think I’d use the notebook Raina had given me anytime soon. After my songwriting session with Hayden, when he asked me to join his band, I wasn’t in the mood to write down any of my thoughts. But my whirlwind of emotions was killing me.
After tossing and turning at two in the morning, I got out of my bed, waking Houston up from the foot of my bed. I rubbedhis back before turning on my desk lamp and opening my notebook. The pages were white and fresh, welcoming my creativity.
I opened the new pack of pens Raina had given me and picked up the black and green pens.Pour your entire soul onto those pages, Hayden’s voice said in my head.
I hope I have enough pages for the size of my soul.
I made an index on the first few pages before writing down everything. I didn’t think about who might see it or censor out how I was feeling. Everything I wanted to say was important and belonged here. And if all else failed, I could just rip the pages out and throw them far, far away.
Flashbacks of the talent show popped into my head, but I shook them away. I wasn’t going to let what happened get to me anymore.
It was time to give what I loved a second chance.
CHAPTER 20
Raina
On Thursday morning, Mom was sitting at the table eating scrambled eggs and a bowl of fruit, a wine glass of orange juice next to her. She had her full face of neutral makeup, minus lipstick, and was dressed in her usual blouse and skirt.
“Good morning, princess,” she said with a smile. “Happy Thursday.”
