by Emily N. Kay
“Right. I’ll be back.”
I take her sweater and throw it in the washing machine, and I come back out with my navy, oversized New York hoodie. She puts it on quietly.
“So…” I start, raising my brow, “care to tell me what is going on? You said you have to stay home today. What are you doing here?”
Zoe’s chest rises up as she inhales. “Okay, I have a lot of questions, but first of all––who the hell is Luke Sutton?”
That––was unexpected.
“Luke?” My lips part. “How’d you––”
“Know about this? Do you have any idea how surprised I was when your mom asked me about a boy from school named Luke Sutton?”
A gasp escapes my mouth.
“I thought he’s one of your clients, so I had to pretend to know this random Luke to protect my best friend’s freaking secret.” She shakes her head. “Who is he? Was he the Netflix and Chill guy?” She rambles on and on, pacing the around the dinner table. “Have you been seeing him?” She comes around to look at me in the eye. “I knew it, Alice. I knew you’re keeping something from me! So this Luke guy is the one you’ve been hiding from me then…”
“No! That’s not––” I sigh. “I can explain.”
“Please do.”
So I tell her all about Luke, and how I was posing as Clarissa Jones, leaving the part about Tyler and Nick, obviously. Zoe’s eyes glint as I tell the story.
“That’s so crazy,” she says breathily. “I didn’t know escorts can do that. Was it fun pretending to be someone’s girlfriend? Maybe you should set up your own agency just for this kind of service.” Zoe’s eyes shine with excitement.
I chuckle. “I guess.”
Then her enthusiasm falters as she realizes she’s supposed to be mad at me still. “Anyway, why didn’t you tell me? When I asked you said there’s nothing to tell. This is not nothing.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” I say sincerely. The only reason I couldn’t tell her about that night is because I don’t want it to lead to Nick.
“It’s just––I felt like I was betrayed when your mom asked me about him. Because that’s when I realized that there are things you keep from me.”
I have nothing to say to that, so I just look down at my newly-painted nails like they’re the most fascinating things.
Zoe gives me an exaggerated eye roll. “Are you seriously not going to tell me about him?”
I instantly look up. “What?”
“About Mr. Chase! Why aren’t you telling me about him!”
My heart stops. She knows about Mr. Chase.
“How––” I manage to say.
She snorts. “Carter told me! And all I could think was––how the freaking hell did Carter Malone know about this and not me, your best friend in the whole entire world!”
Goddamn Carter!
I groan. “I wanted to tell you. Really. I even asked Nick––”
“Oh my God.” She squints her eyes shut, hugging herself. “Don’t––call him that.”
“As I was saying,” I say slowly, “Mr. Chase didn’t want to risk it, and I understand him––”
“Wait, hold up.” Zoe puts her hand up. “Before you go any further, you have to tell me how the hell did you two happen?” She pauses, then whispers to herself, “And how the fuck did I not suspect a thing…”
I take a deep breath. The time has come. I can’t keep this from her anymore.
So I tell her. All about it. Since day one.
I tell her how Nick was my client that night. How Nick and I have started our deal. Then I tell her how my feelings have developed for him. How Carter found out. And also how I told him I love him, and he didn’t say it back…
Zoe stays still like a corpse throughout the whole thing, her face pale. “Wow. I still can’t…”
“I know. It’s crazy.”
Then we are silence for a while before Zoe says, “I think you need to be careful.”
“I am.”
“No, I mean––be careful of Mr. Chase,” she says quietly, her face solemn. “I’m saying this as your friend, Alice. I mean, there is a possibility that he’s taking advantage of you, right? He’s like, thirty and you’re only eighteen!”
“Twenty-eight,” I correct, trying not to let what she said affect me.
“Yeah, same thing.” She exhales. “Just… don’t let your feelings get too deep, okay?”
I think it’s a little too late for that, I want to tell her. But I nod instead.
I know she’s worried. I would be concerned too if I was in her position. But she doesn’t understand what we have, and she doesn’t know Nick like I do.
Zoe lets out a dramatic sigh. “All this time, I’m so oblivious to everything…”
I give her a dry smile. “Honestly, I’m not even mad at Carter for telling you. I’m actually kind of relieved.”
She lets out a laugh. “Yeah? Well I’m just glad he told me when Leo’s not there.”
I furrow my brow. “Leo doesn’t know?”
“No! I didn’t tell him. He will die if he knows. Like… dead.”
Our eyes meet, seeing the horror on each other’s faces, and we burst out laughing. Leo is the master of overreaction. I used to think that no one can beat Zoe in that category. Turns out, her boyfriend is ten times more dramatic when it comes to reacting.
“So where were you two anyway?” I ask. “You guys totally disappeared. That’s why I left in the first place.”
Zoe gives me a meaningful grin, batting her eyelashes. “Well, yeah, about that…” She clears her throat. “We were in the master room. I think it was Carter’s room. Anyway, the bed was huge, and we were kind of tipsy, and then––”
“Oh my God, stop!” I grimace. “TMI.”
Zoe titters and shifts closer to me. She touches my shoulder. “I’m sorry too. We didn’t mean to ditch you…”
“It’s okay. I would ditch me too if I was in that room with my boyfriend.” I poke at her side, laughing.
She cracks up. Then she stops, her smile gone. “Shit. I just realize how weird this is.” Zoe blinks and shakes her head. “Now I’m seeing you and Mr. Chase having sex, and––” She suddenly screams. “I can’t un-see this!”
I smack her arm. “Stop freaking out! You make it sound so wrong.”
“It is wrong!” Then she quickly presses her mouth shut. “Sorry. I mean, ugh, you’re my friend and I don’t know how to react to all this…”
“You don’t approve of us. You think it’s wrong,” I say it for her. “Totally get it. It’s messed up, I know.” I look at Zoe’s increasingly horrified expression. “But I just don’t see him as a teacher… He’s just a guy to me.”
Zoe looks at me with her eyebrows drawn together. “I guess I don’t know him like you do, so I wouldn’t know…”
“Exactly.” I flash a wide smile.
“Huh,” Zoe says, chewing on her lip. “Well, I think it’s all about a matter of perspective, right?” She nods like she’s convincing herself.
“Yes. Thank you,” I say. “Oh, and don’t worry about Leo. I’ll tell him myself later so you won’t have to.”
She blows out a huge breath of relief. “Please! I don’t think I can handle him after all this.”
“Ha. You’re welcome.”
Chapter 35
“––And that concludes our presentation,” Leo finishes with a bright smile.
Everyone gives us an automatic clap. Mr. Douglass even offers us an approving nod. “You two make a good team. I can tell you really understand the content and that you spent a lot of time and effort into it. Good job.”
“Thank you, Mr. Douglass,” I say humbly.
Leo shoots me a knowing look. We didn’t exactly put effort into this assignment. After we finished the PowerPoint slides weeks ago, we’ve forgotten about it. This morning we were supposed to rehearse our presentation, but Leo demanded to know what happened at Carter’s party. And although I begged him to wait
till after class, he just couldn’t contain his curiosity. So I had to tell him, in the briefest and quickest way possible. Even so, we only had five minutes to divide our key points right before our presentation. But lucky for us, Leo is very good at bullshitting and I’m good at keeping things going smoothly. So everything turned out fine.
The two of us go back to our seat.
Jacob leans over between us and says, “That was great.”
I turn to him and smile. “Thanks. Not nearly as good as yours though,” I tell him sincerely. I mean, he and his partner Mika went all out and did an animation explaining human evolution, making our presentation looks like garbage.
“Don’t say that, Partner,” objects Leo. “Ours is obviously better.”
Jacob snorts. “Don’t make me take it back, man.”
We exchange smiles. And Jacob eases back to his seat.
Jacob and I have been friendly now that he’s over me. After the rejection day, he’s been avoiding me. And it did take him a while before he finally warms up to me again. Which I’m grateful for. He’s such a good friend.
Leo glances at him and back at me. “I almost forgot you and Jacob were a thing,” he says under his breath. “Kind of miss hanging out with the guy, though.” Leo shakes his head. “Shame.”
I pinch his arm. “We were not a thing.”
“Ouch!” He rubs the spot, then he grins. “I mean, hearing about you and this new dude literally wipes out all my memories of your romantic history.” He pauses. “Or lack thereof.” Then he covers his mouth, his body shaking with contained laughter.
I scowl at him, instantly regretting ever telling him about me and Nick. “Don’t be a jerk, Leo.”
When class is over, Leo and I make our way to the common area to meet with Zoe. And out of nowhere, Nick is turning a corner and is now walking directly toward us. I hold my breath and dig my nails into Leo’s shoulder, threatening him not to do anything stupid that might suggest he knows about us in front of Nick.
But that does nothing to stop him…
“Hi, Mr. Chase,” Leo says, nodding at Nick with a grin.
Nick nods back to Leo in acknowledgement, ignoring me completely. Then we walk pass each other without as much as a hello.
I let out a long exhale, my heart still pounding.
“Don’t you ever… do that again!” I shove him, but he’s strong on his feet.
Leo is now full-on laughing. “Do what! I just said hi to him.”
Ugh, I know he’s playing me but he’s also right. I can’t force my friends to ignore Nick entirely. That would be even more suspicious.
“But man, that guy is ripped,” Leo says, looking back over his shoulder. “You should ask him where he gets his protein shake.”
I roll my eyes in response.
“The duo is here!” Zoe calls out to us, waving from the foot of the stairs.
“Hey.” Leo smiles and takes her in his arms. They kiss. No, they make out. In a middle of the bustling crowd…
I stand awkwardly before them. I should get used to this by now, but––
“Hey, stranger.” Someone taps on my shoulder.
I twist around to see Carter in his jersey, his golden hair slick with sweat. And I hate to admit it, but I’m happy he decides to show up now. Anything and anyone is welcome to distract me from this extreme third-wheel situation.
Leo and Zoe immediately stop locking lips as they turn to witness me and Carter.
“What do you want, Carter?” Zoe steps up beside me.
Carter gives her a look. “I want to talk to Alice.”
“I’ll be fine. You guys go ahead,” I say.
“Okay, we’ll be at our table,” Leo says, his arm slung across Zoe, leading her away.
The second they’re gone, Carter scoffs. “So, what––they’re your acting bodyguards now?”
“You told Zoe…”
His smug expression disappears, replacing by guilt. “Look, I slipped, okay? I’m sorry. She cornered me and I panicked. Your friend thought I kidnapped you or something.”
“Did you tell anyone else?” I press.
“No. As much as I want to, I won’t.” The sincerity in his voice makes me want to believe him.
“Thank you,” I say. “I didn’t get a chance to say that when you deleted the picture. You could’ve ruined my life with that but you didn’t. So thanks.”
He doesn’t say anything to that. Is he still deciding on my fate?
“And I’m sorry for running off. I was freaking out,” I add.
He becomes still, his jaw tensed. Like his wound has reopened, and he’s reminded of how I’ve left him on that balcony.
His eyes narrow. “Do you know how shitty it feels to be left there… after I’ve poured out my feelings for you?”
“I––”
Before I could say anything, Maria’s voice cuts in. “I know how shitty that feels.”
I look behind me. Maria is now walking toward us, arms crossed.
“Great,” Carter mutters. “Of course you’ve been listening. What are you, my stalker?”
“Not everything I do is about you, Carter,” Maria retorts. “I was minding my own business when I saw how distressed she looks with you jabbering on whatever bullshit you’re saying, and I just couldn’t help myself. I need to intervene.”
I look at Maria, surprised. She seems different now––more confident than the last time I saw her crying in the locker room. Talking back to Carter? I’m liking this Maria.
“You really like her, don’t you?” She keeps her hard gaze on Carter.
I keep quiet. It may look like she’s on my side now, but if I say anything wrong, she might turn her fury toward me instead.
“What do you want?” Carter asks wearily.
“Nothing.” Maria shrugs. “Just want to let you know how fun it is watching you suffer through this sad, unrequited love,” she says in a mocking voice, her lips curl into a sneer.
“It’s none of your business,” he says, his jaw clenched. I can tell his patience is wearing out.
I look between them. “Guys, cool off. I will leave now, so you two can work it out––”
“Shut up, Alice,” Maria says in a clipped tone. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“Don’t tell her to shut up,” says Carter.
“She doesn’t like you,” Maria says bitterly. “So why don’t you leave her alone, just like you left me.”
“For fuck’s sake…” he groans, his head thrown back. “You’re still not over it! We broke up. Deal with it. It’s not like I ever lied to you.”
Maria flinches at his words, but she keeps her face placid.
“And Alice doesn’t like you back, so now you know how it feels,” she retorts.
Carter’s throat bobs. He is quiet for a long time. “You’re right. I’m miserable. So if that’s how I made you feel, I’m sorry.”
Her eyes waver for a second, but she rolls her eyes. “Whatever. I’m over it.”
“Are you though?” He raises an eyebrow.
I watch the two of them glaring at each other, and I chime in, “Um, I don’t know what’s going on here, but I’m gonna go…”
Maria whips her head to glower at me. “No. We––are going.”
And to my surprise, she takes my arm and leads me away from a confused-as-heck Carter.
She lets go of me when we’re in the cafeteria.
“Whoa…” I look at her. “Are we like––friends now?”
“Definitely not.”
I snicker, pursing my lips and trying not to smile.
Maria huffs. “If you mean I can tolerate you a little bit now, then yes.”
I clear my throat. “Thank you for… I don’t know… coming between me and him.” I crack a smile. “You kind of rescued me back there.”
“I didn’t intend to, but whatever…” she mumbles, looking away. And I thought that’s her cue to leave, but she doesn’t move.
I study her for a moment before
I decide to say, “You don’t have friends, do you?”
She gives me a stink-eye. “Excuse me?”
“I mean, you have your cheerleader friends, but there’s no one you can really talk to. And you don’t talk about Carter with them because you’re embarrassed.”
She scoffs. “You don’t know shit.”
“Whatever you say.” I shrug. “But if you happen to want to talk to someone––”
“What, are you saying I should go find a shrink? Because I’m crazy?” She raises her voice.
I chuckle. “No. You can talk to me. I’m here if you need someone.” I wince at my own words. That was super cheesy.
Her face softens for a short moment before her shield is up again. “And why would I want to talk to you of all people, Alice Anderson?”
“Because it’s easier to talk to someone you have no intention of impressing,” I say. “Trust me, I get it.”
Maria stares at me, disbelief in her eyes. “You’re such a weirdo.”
Nick calls me that too.
I smile. “I am.”
She looks down for a minute, and then back at me. “Want to have lunch with me?”
I blink. “What, you mean right now?” A scowl starts to form on her face, so I quickly say, “I mean, okay. Sure.”
Here’s to the first meal with my new frenemy.
Chapter 36
“Your friend knows,” is the first word Nick says to me when he greets me at the door. “Miss Larson.”
Uh-oh.
I follow him to the kitchen. “How do you know? Did she say––”
“No, she didn’t say anything to me. She didn’t have to.” Nick chuckles in his throat. “She kept giving me weird looks in class.”
That makes me laugh.
“Not funny,” he says, but he’s grinning as he hands me a glass of water.
“Sorry.” I clear my throat. “You’re not mad that I told her?”
He shrugs. “I knew it’d happen, sooner or later.”
“You’re weirdly calm about this.” I narrow my eyes.
“I can only hope no one slips before your graduation.” His dimple flickers. “Oh, and I think I know who Carter is.”
“Oh, really? How?”
