Page 41 of Just Friends Forever
“I mean, I know we’re nottogethertogether, so it’s not technically breaking up, but—”
“That’s not what this is,” I say, fiddling with the key ring.
“Then, what is it?”
I let out a big breath and face her. “Did you tell anyone about Stevie?”
She stares at me, and the fear I’ve just accused an innocent person builds.
“A bunch of paparazzi have been camped outside of my house since yesterday,” I explain, “and since Stevie and I didn’t tell anybody, I…” I’m not quite sure how to finish.I immediately thought you were guilty?I press my lips together, determined not to make this more awkward than it already is. “I just can’t figure out how the press found out.”
Her head shakes from side to side, her eyes wide and innocent. “I would never leak anything to the press, Troy.”
I hurry to nod, feeling awful for making baseless accusations, then grab her hand. “Yeah, of course.” I look down and stroke my thumb along her knuckles. “Sorry. I feel dumb for even asking.”
She doesn’t respond. She’s got to be furious with me, and she has every reason to be.
“I only told Tina.”
My gaze jumps to hers, my thumb stilling on her hand.
The innocence in her eyes has shifted to something more anxious. She grips my hand more tightly. “I told her not to tell anyone, though.”
I take time before responding. “Tina? The one you said knows everything about Stevie and follows her obsessively?”
“She would never have forgiven me if she knew I’d met Stephanie Carr and hadn’t told her.” Her tone pleads for understanding.
I look away. I’m not sure how to react right now. I know what Ifeel, but I’m trying to be measured in my response. “Do you know what Stevie woke up to, Lyla?”
She swallows but says nothing.
“A man in my driveway, trying to take pictures of her through her window.”
She bites her lip. “Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry, Troy. I never meant for it to get out or anything.”
“The whole reason she came to stay with me was to get away from the media, and now…” I stop. What’s done is done. There’s no use rehashing it, but I can’t get the image of Stevie’s tear-filled eyes out of my head.
“I said I was sorry,” she says.
“And I appreciate that, but sorry doesn’t fix things. It doesn’t take away the horde of photographers sitting in front of my house with massive camera lenses directed at my windows.” I look her in the eye and blow a breath through rounded lips. “I trusted you, Lyla.”
“Did you, though?” She holds my gaze. “Youdidn’ttell me about Stevie, Troy. The only reason I knew you had another woman staying at your house was because I showed up to surprise you at the grocery store. That’s not trust.”
I clench and unclench my jaw. She’s not wrong. “Maybe not, but can you blame me for not telling you given what’s happened? I gave my word to her, Lyla. Would you rather I make myself a liar?”
“No, I just…” She takes a second before continuing. “I’ve barely seen you this week, but you’ve been with her all day, every day.”
“I know. I’m sorry about that. I’ve been trying to help her and be there for her. It might seem weird to you or like I’m being a jerk, but this isn’t just some random girl I started hanging out with. She’s my best friend, and she’s going through a lot right now.”
“I know she is, and she deserves to have someone be there for her. It says a lot about you that you’re being that person.” She searches my face. “Is it possible to admire you for that while also having a hard time with it?”
I take a breath before responding, “Yeah. I think it is.”
She lifts her shoulders. “I can’t compete with Stephanie Carr, Troy. And I don’t want to try to.”
I stifle a frustrated eye roll. “That’s the thing, though. There’s no competition going on.”
“Maybe not, but to me, it feels like there is.” She looks at her hands in her lap. “If I’m wrong, I’ll be happy, and maybe then we can pick up where we left off—if you can forgive me, I guess. But I don’t think I’m wrong.” She looks up at me.
