Diamond
My dads always told me to be careful what you wish for. That sometimes, getting what you want is the worst thing that could possibly happen to you…
I thought they were exaggerating, but I can practically hear the numbers on my phone laughing at me as I stroll up the driveway with Lexie on a leash.
My bank statement says I’m about two hundred short of my goal. A few more days working for Mr. Richards and I’ll have more than enough for a car.
And that’s a good thing.
I should be happy.
After all, I promised myself, when Finn was taking another one of my firsts, that I’d be out of this house as soon as my wallet allowed it.
But… leaving now would mean saying goodbye to Lexie three weeks earlier. Packing my bags would equal to never seeing her again. I doubt Mr. Richards will want me around once he returns from his vacation.
The house is eerily quiet when we march inside after our afternoon walk. I only saw two cars parked in the lot on my way in—a red one I know for a fact belongs to Theo and a silver one I’ve never seen before.
Is Theo back for good?
Or just visiting?
I’ve barely unleashed Lexie before she aims for her dog bed. She plops down on the cushion and dozes off almost immediately. She seems tired these days, which isn’t surprising considering her age, but her energy drop is becoming harder to ignore.
She’s been breathing more heavily on our walks, too. Like she’s struggling. First time it happened was the day we got trapped in the heat, so I didn’t think much of it, but it’s been happening more and more. The vet ran some tests for her annual checkup, and we’re still waiting for the results.
Hopefully, everything comes back normal.
I pad toward the fridge to grab a water bottle and slow down when I see three pieces of masking tape slapped on top of the door—no doubt courtesy of Finn. Words are scribbled over it, and I recognize his handwriting from the note he attached to the vibrator three days ago.
Theo’s moving back in, thought you should know.
P.S. If he tells you I ate all the cookies you made, he’s lying.
P.P.S. Fine, I ate them.
A scoff shoots out of me, and I press my lips together as if to stop it from evolving into laughter. I’d rather not be on good terms with him when I leave. I couldn’t handle my last memory of him being that damn heart-stopping smile.
It doesn’t help that he’s been surprisingly decent to me since we had semi-sex. We exchange small talk and greetings when we run into each other, not to mention excel at pretending like he never finger-fucked me to high heaven.
Shoving Finn out of my mind, I reach for my water and shut the fridge. I’m wandering onto the patio with the intention to bask in the sun for a bit when I realize someone beat me to it.
Lacey Mattson, to be exact.
The girl is well known around school as captain of the cheer squad, Brielle Randall’s “friend”—everybody knows they secretly hate each other—and, last but not least…
Theo’s groupie.
Rumor has it, she and Theo were friends with benefits for most of junior year until a pregnancy scare quite literally scared Theo away. He freaked out, distanced himself, and they’ve been on and off ever since, occasionally winding up in bed together at parties.
Aveena, who’s lived in Silver Springs much longer than I have, says Lacey’s been obsessed with Theo since the third grade, but post-puberty, Theo could never see her as more than a convenient side piece.
Now that I think about it, I’d bet good money she’s the one Theo ran off with the night of Brody’s party. Their fuck buddy relationship would also explain her presence here.
In a purple bikini, Lacey relaxes by the pool on a sun lounger. A messy bun sits on top of her head, her phone next to her on the lounger. She peels her eyes open when she hears the glass door close. Lacey blinks at me for a moment, her sun-kissed face indecipherable.
I’m not sure what to do.
Do I introduce myself? Ask her what she’s doing here? If my interactions with Brielle and Louise are anything to go by, Easton High’s cheerleaders aren’t big on non-popular humans.