Diamond
Finn: Where are you?
Finn: Stop torturing me and get your ass over to my house.
Finn: Pretend like I said something less desperate.
Finn: Also, pretend like I didn’t just text you four times in a row.
I’ve never been one to swoon over a boy’s texts—granted, I’ve never really had a boy blow up my phone like this before—but I can’t stifle a squeal as I read Finn’s message and jog down the stairs with Aveena.
The basketball game ended hours ago. Vee and I decided to head back to my place shortly after Xavier scored the winning shot. I figured Vee would be less likely to bail on me if we hung out just the two of us before driving over to Finn’s house.
We’re having a slumber party tonight, which I’m sure has something to do with her agreeing to go to the game and the hangout at Finn’s place afterward.
I appreciate her meeting me halfway. I think she’s made peace with the fact that in order for us to spend more time together, she has to be willing to spend some of that time with the jocks.
We’ve been eating lunch with Finn and the guys every day for six months, and she’s yet to get to know them. It also wouldn’t hurt if she made friends with Lacey. I could hardly see myself telling her about the whole Remy thing a few days ago considering she wasn’t invited to girls’ night.
I’ve been biting my tongue all week, obsessing over the blue-eyed, paled-skin beauty who happens to share a name with Finn’s car.
Is it a coincidence?
I thought so, at first.
But I would’ve had to be blind not to notice the way Remy forced a smile whenever she talked to me. It was clear that she couldn’t stand me. I tried to convince myself I was crazy until Lacey glanced at me with a devilish grin and slurred, “Never have I ever slept with my boss’s son,” halfway through the night.
Finn’s name somehow got slipped into the conversation, and I swear Remy’s face changed.
She had that look in her eyes.
Like she was mentally ripping me apart.
The whole thing has made me realize that I don’t know much about Finn’s past. His mom’s accident is pretty much the only window I have into his life before me. What was his relationship with his mother like? Is Finn’s envy of Xavier the only reason he and his father drifted apart?
How many girls has he been with?
Did he love any of them?
I’ve been meaning to ask Finn about Remy, but I didn’t want to mention it in front of everyone at lunch, so I decided to wait until I got him alone.
I planned to tell him last night, since Lacey told me practice ended early—the cheer squad and basketball team share the gym—but when I texted Finn, he said he had a thing. He was very vague about it, too.
But I didn’t insist.
I trust him.
He cares about me. He wouldn’t screw me over. I quickly text Finn back before Aveena and I reach the first floor.
Dia: Leaving now.
My trust issues evolve into stone-cold betrayal when Aveena and I walk into the kitchen to find my dads and Jesse seated around the table. There isn’t a sound to be heard, the harsh truth creeping under my skin as they stare directly at me.
Dave’s eyes are bloodshot with rage, and Gaten’s are packed with disappointment.
My gaze darts to Jesse.
His eyes are loaded with guilt.