CHAPTER 80
JESS
I was sprawled out on the couch in my living room, wrapped in oversized pajamas that felt like they were swallowing me whole. The living room was a mess, littered with half–empty snack bags and empty soda cans, and it looked like the junk food
apocalypse. Laura was beside me, both of us sulking as we tried to distract ourselves with another Nicholas Sparks movie. Ryan Gosling is a pretty good distraction.
Tom was at practice, while Luke… Luke was taking Tiffany to prom along with Josh and one of Tiffany’s friends, or so I heard after she straight up told us. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at how messed up everything had become.
Laura let out a dramatic groan, pulling me from my thoughts. “Why does he keep doing this to me?” she said, a deep frown creasing her forehead as she squirted a ridiculous amount of whipped cream directly into her mouth. “Begging me to forgive him like he did something ridiculous like forgetting an
anniversary. Fucking another girl is not the same as forgetting an anniversary. I can’t… I just can’t put my heart on the line like that again.”
I sighed, reaching out to take the whipped cream from her. “Agreed,” I muttered in between mouths of white, frosty, future diabetes.
My phone rang, jolting me out of my brooding. I glanced at the screen and saw Sam’s name flickering across it. Part of me
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didn’t want to answer, but knowing Sam, she’d just keep calling until I did. With a resigned sigh, I picked up the phone.
“You better be getting ready!” Sam’s voice burst through the phone, full of energy, a stark contrast to the gloomy mood in the
room.
Laura groaned, rolling her eyes and sinking deeper into the couch. “Tell her we’re not going,” she muttered through a mouthful of whipped cream.
“Sorry, Sam, but we’re just not feeling it tonight,” I said.
There was a brief pause on the other end before Sam’s determined tone cut through. “You better get your asses in dresses because I’m picking you both up in one hour. No excuses! Or I’ll drag you to senior prom in pajamas.”
“Is that a threat, red?“Laura asks, shoving something else into her mouth.
“It’s a promise,” Sam warns.
“Sam, seriously, we-”
“Nope, don’t wanna hear it. We’re going together, just us girls, and it’s going to be the best night ever. No boys allowed!” Sam’s voice was filled with an enthusiasm that I wished I could
muster.
Laura groaned louder, flopping over onto her back. “Tell her I’m sick. Deathly ill. Can’t make it.”
I sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing with Sam when she was in one of her moods. I looked at Laura, who was giving
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me a pleading look, but I just shrugged. “Fine, Sam. Give us an hour.”
Sam squealed in delight. “That’s the spirit! I’ll see you two in exactly one hour. And you better look fabulous!” With that, she hung up, leaving me and Laura to stare at each other in mutual defeat.
Laura exhaled dramatically, tossing the whipped cream can onto the coffee table. “Why do we let her talk us into these things?”
“Because she’s Sam,” I said with a small smile, already mentally going through my closet for something halfway decent to wear. “And because, deep down, we know she’s right.”
Laura sighed again but got up and pulled me up with her.
Forty minutes later, Laura and I were both dressed, our hair done, and our makeup looking good, considering Sam usually handled that department. The mirror reflected two girls who looked ready for a night out, even if it wasn’t quite what we had originally planned.
“Okay. So, we go.” Laura breathed out, squaring her shoulders like she was about to face a firing squad.
I reached out, stopping her before she could take a step. Turning her to face me, I said softly, “If it helps, I’ve never seen Josh even try to apologize for anything in his life. And I’ve never seen him this serious about someone, either. I think… I think my brother does love you, you know.”
Laura’s eyes went wide, and for a moment, I saw her struggle to keep her emotions in check. Her lower lip trembled slightly, and
CHAPTER 80
her eyes grew red as she fought back tears. Finally, she sighed, a mix of relief and uncertainty crossing her features. “I think I love him too,” she whispered.
I smiled back at her, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. “Then tell him,” I encouraged her just as the doorbell rang.
“That’s Sam. Let’s go find out how terrible we did our hair and makeup,” I laughed, breaking the tension as we descended the stairs.
Laura hesitated for a moment at the bottom of the stairs, glancing at me with a small, appreciative smile.
“Oh, you go ahead. I just need my house keys,” I told her, grabbing the keys I’d left on the counter and rushing toward the door.
I stepped outside, “Let’s go g…” but before I could even process what was happening, something flashed in front of my face, followed by a sudden, skull–crushing pain ripping through my cheek.
The world spun around me, and I dropped to the floor. Then everything went dark in an instant, the pain fading into a void as consciousness slipped away from me.
