“It wouldn’t be the first time. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll punch him in the face for it if that’s the case, but it’s Knox. It wouldn’t surprise me with him.” She pats my bed twice before standing back up. “If you want, come with me to Zayn’s party this weekend. You can get down to the bottom of it.”
I give her the best smile I can manage. “Thanks. I’ll let you know.”
THE WEEK IS FILLED with so many different emotions, ranging from I’m so mad to I genuinely don’t care. Every time I feel confident and strong, I tell myself that I’m going to get over it and move on. Maybe even take Carter up on his invitation to take me out. However, that mood eventually ends, and I find myself texting him, hoping to get more than a one-word answer out of him. It always ends the same—full of disappointment.
By the time Thursday rolls around, I’m tired of his game. Clearly trying to talk to him through text isn’t going to work, so my only option to find out what’s going on is to just confront him. The idea alone is anxiety inducing, but I know it needs to be done.
I say goodbye to Savannah and Grayson before heading outside. I march out the door and down the steps, determined to get answers, but the sight of a certain someone stops me in my tracks and practically stabs me in the chest.
Knox is in front of North Haven High, but he isn’t alone. He’s with some blonde-haired girl who’s standing a little too close to be just friends. The two of them are talking, and the girl smiles brightly as she laughs. Thinking Tessa could be right is painful enough, but seeing this—it’s a total different level of heartache.
“Wow,” Carter whispers, appearing next to me from out of nowhere. “That didn’t take him long at all.”
My brows furrow as I squint at Carter quickly and then look back at Knox. “What? Do you know who she is?”
He nods. “That’s Hailey, Vaughn’s ex-girlfriend.”
Knox has an ex-girlfriend? I shouldn’t be surprised. She’s gorgeous, and clearly far more experienced than me. I was stupid to think I was ever more than a novelty to him.
“I didn’t know he dated anyone.”
“Yeah. They’ve been on and off since freshman year. They’re basically end game. It’s just a matter of when they decide to stop screwing each other over and accept it.”
As if he can feel me watching him, Knox glances over, and our eyes meet. He freezes for a moment, only to give me a sad smile and look away. It’s then that I know I’ve seen enough. I need to leave before I let him—or Carter—see me upset. Neither of them can see me cry.
FRIDAY IS THE FIRST day where I don’t send a single text message to Knox. A part of me had hoped he’d be bothered by the silence and reach out, but of course, that was just wishful thinking. My phone stays quiet except for texts from Savannah about New York. She left yesterday to visit Juilliard for the weekend, since she’ll be going to school there in the fall. I’m happy for her, but I don’t know what I’m going to do without my best friend.
By the time the sun sets, I ca
n’t sit still anymore. He doesn’t get to just leave me waiting in limbo, without so much as a goodbye. And he sure as hell doesn’t get to keep me from living my life simply because he doesn’t want to be in it anymore. No. I’m done tiptoeing around it all.
I get up from my bed and go over to Tessa’s door, knocking on it harshly. It swings open and she looks at me, her makeup half done, as if I’ve lost my mind.
“Don’t leave without me. I’m coming with you.”
The words come out of my mouth with such determination that my sister does nothing but smile. Enough is enough. Goody Two-Shoes has left the building.
DEALING WITH THE CHAOS at Zayn’s parties is kind of like riding a bike—you get better with practice and time. The amount of people doing drugs or showing a little too much PDA doesn’t even bother me anymore. As long as someone doesn’t try pulling me into a threesome again, I’m good.
“Oh, hey, Delaney,” Stone greets me, sharing a look with Zayn and Gage. “We didn’t think you’d be here tonight.”
Tessa throws her arm around my shoulder and pulls me close. “She needed a night to relax, and what better place than this?”
Zayn shoots me a smile that instantly has me feeling more welcome. “There isn’t one. Don’t worry, we’ll get you to let loose.”
Easton goes to get Tessa a beer and comes back with a bottle of water for me. I thank him before taking a sip, allowing the cold liquid to help calm me down. Maybe I wasn’t exactly ready for this, knowing the potential to see him is high, but there’s no backing down now. Hell, it’s not even guaranteed he’ll be here tonight. He may be too busy with his girlfriend. Even thinking it puts a heavy feeling in my stomach.
I stay close to Tess and laugh as Gage and Stone have a contest to see who can chug six beers the fastest—first one to build a tower with the empty cups wins. Zayn looks behind me and rolls his eyes with an attitude I’ve never really seen on him. He’s normally so calm, cool, and collected. However, when I turn around, I see why.
Knox is standing there with the girl that was with him yesterday. They’re having what looks like a heated conversation. She’s no longer sporting that carefree smile from the last time I saw her, and Knox looks ready to snap.
As she storms away, Knox pulls on his hair and starts to walk toward us. I divert my eyes quickly, not being nearly ready to see him yet but knowing I don’t have much choice.
“I need a fucking beer,” he declares.
Stone chuckles. “What’s wrong? Trouble in paradise?”
“Fuck you. It isn’t like that and you know it.”