Page 60 of Freshmeet
Not the most tactful way to say it, but she’d pushed me past manners. She yanked her arm from my hold and scowled.
“What I don’t know is why you’re doing—” I waved my hand around. “All of this.”
Meg bit her upper lip, dragging her teeth over it. “I’m just having fun.”
“Yeah, okay.” I crossed my arms, my fingers tight around my biceps to keep from fidgeting or worse, smacking her.
“Maybe I’m tired.”
Cocking my head to the side, I waited for more. There had to be more.
“You wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me.”
She blew out a breath. “You have everything. Even after you got cut off, you found a way to have it all. The job with College Bound?—”
“Mona’s the one?—”
“I know! “She let out a humorless laugh. “Don’t you think I know that she went above and beyond to getyouin with Christie? Do you know how hard I had to work to get a spot as a counselor? And there you were, being handed a job because of Mona. And then you just had to get a job at the Welkum!”
“You told me to apply!” I shrieked, glancing out at our friends in the water, who were now staring at us. Lowering my voice, I said, “There’s nothing I can do about that now. I need the money.”
“For the first time in your life.” I opened my mouth, but she held her hand up to cut me off. “So here I am, bartending with the guy I’m very into. But of course, he’s head over heels for you, and I get a front-row seat to your will-they-won’t-they bullshit.”
“That’s not my fault.” I normally operated on guilt, but not today. Meg could kick rocks if she expected me to take whatever bullshit she thought I deserved.
“No. No, it’s not. But it doesn’t make it any easier to swallow.”
“So, what do you want me to do? Quit? Blow off Connor? Let you rub up against him like I’m not standing right there?” I was beyond irritated.
“I don’t know, Sarah.” Every muscle in her body was tense. It was clear that our friendship would not recover from this. She’d apparently had a problem with me for a long time. Ironically, of the things she hated the most, I didn’t even have anymore. Except for Connor, and I didn’t plan on giving him up.
“Great.”
We stared at each other while the party continued around us. From where I stood, I could see my roommates watching us from shore, clearly ready to jump in if need be. This whole day was turning into a disaster, which sucked because I’d been excited to spend time with Connor and my friends.
“How about we stay away from each other? Connor and I can swim later.”
Meg scoffed, but her body relaxed. “So, you get Connor, and I get the lake?”
“If that’s how you want to look at it. I see it more as me trying to ease an awkward situation so our friends can have a good time.”
She glanced over her shoulder and wiggled her fingers at the girls. “Fine.” Without another word, she jumped off the dock, splashing lake water all over me.
“You’re welcome,” I mumbled, turning and going back to my friends.
TWELVE
GREAT, I’M GOING TO DIE TO SOME SHITTY THROWBACK SONG
HAILEY
“Maybe you should go check on Carter,” Meg said as she splashed her arms.
We’d been baking in the sun for about an hour, and she’d finally stopped bitching about Sarah and Connor. Don’t get me wrong, I felt for the girl, but he was just some townie. There was no reason to get all bent out of shape about a guy who had probably never left Missouri.
I glanced over at the picnic tables and caught sight of my almost-boyfriend. Slack-jawed, it was clear Carter had too much to drink.
