9781250209153

Irene snorts derisively. She falls back against the car, shaking her head.
“‘Led along.’ That’s an interesting way to put it.”
“What does that mean?” Honey-Belle asks.
Irene and I lock eyes. I prepare for her to throw this whole arrangement
away, and in that moment, I almost want her to. This scheme has caused
more trouble than it’s worth. For both of us.
But as usual, she surprises me.
“Nothing.” She sniffs. “Let’s just get out of here. I’m tired of thinking.
I’m tired of acting.”
Honey-Belle nods sympathetically. Danielle sets her mouth, but she
glances toward me, deferring.
“Okay,” I say, trying to anchor myself. “Let’s go. But someone else
needs to drive.”
“I can,” Honey-Belle says. “I didn’t drink anything.”
I nod, hand her my keys, and slink into the back seat. When Danielle
slides in next to me, I meet her eyes sheepishly. “Did you tell the boys we
won’t be back?”
“Yeah,” she says shortly. She was getting such good quality time with
Kevin, but she gave it up to check on my fake girlfriend and me. Not for the
first time, I feel unworthy of her friendship.
Irene tucks herself into the passenger seat in front of me. I watch her
expression in the side mirror as we pull away from the curb. She looks
utterly defeated. I know it’s not directly because of me, but I still feel the
weight of it.
It wasn’t your fault, Mom said the day of the accident, but it’s still your
responsibility.
I speak before I can think twice about it.
“Maybe we should keep hanging out, just the four of us.”
Danielle stares at me like I’m malfunctioning. Irene maintains her stony
silence. But Honey-Belle, God bless her, gasps with delight.
“I love that idea! Like a girls’ sleepover?” She gasps again. “We could
have a self-care night in my Jacuzzi!”
Danielle’s interest piques. “Wait, hold on. You have a Jacuzzi?”
“Yeah, with seven types of bubbles and color-changing lights!”