“I’ll get over it.” And I would. I got over things. I moved on. It was what I did these days.
She smacked my knee. “He’s dumb if he doesn’t recognize how hot and badass you are, dude.”
I shrugged. “Silly me for crushing on yet another dumb boy.”
Theo eyed me in the rearview mirror. “For what it’s worth, he was pretty reluctant to tell me the name of the diner when we were trying to figure out where to eat after the beach. I don’t think he wanted to run into her.”
I met his gaze. “Do you know who she is?”
He hesitated. When Helen pinched his bicep, he answered. “He found the diner on one of his drives. He took me there once. Emily was working. I got the impression they had hooked up. But that was last year. I haven’t heard anything about her since.”
I leaned my head against the window. “It’s fine. I don’t even care.”
They let me be after that.
Thankfully.
Lachlan:Come out back. Let’s talk.
It wasn’t late by college student standards, but I was already in bed. Days at the beach, confessing one of my darkest secrets, and battling back my base instincts always wiped me out.
I’d done my post-sun skin routine, lotioning myself until I was as slick as a baby seal. After it soaked in, I slid into my favorite satin nightgown and tucked myself into bed with a horror flick playing on my laptop.
Early 2000s murder porn always relaxed me.
One text from Lock ruined all of it—which reminded me to change his contact name on my phone. No more Lachlan. That was Emily’s now.
Me:Actually, I’m fine where I am. Have a nice weekend.
Lock:We need to talk.
Me:I don’t want to talk.
Lock:Too damn bad. Your reaction today told me we definitely need to talk.
Me:Oh, go gloat to someone who cares. I’m not coming out there so you can let me down gently. I know where we stand. You don’t need to apologize for not wanting me. I get it. You’re off the hook.
Sense came over me, and I deleted that text before I could send it. I would have never been able to show my face again if I had.
Lock:I see you typing. Come out and talk. It’s easier.
Me:No. Good night.
Lock:El, stop being stubborn. Let me settle you.
Me:That is…wow. The ego on you. I’m in bed, Lock. I was half asleep before you texted. I’m so settled. I’ll say it again: good night.
Minutes passed before my phone vibrated again. I made myself wait through a gory murder scene before I checked it.
Lock:I’m glad you’re settled, Ellie. Good night.
Settled was the opposite of what I was feeling, but I’d always been good at pretending. If it meant Lock would give me space so I’d have a chance to get over him, I’d keep faking it for as long as I had to.
If he kept calling me Ellie and taking care of me like he had the day before, it was going to take alotof faking it.
Good thing that was something I was an expert at—ask any of my ex-boyfriends.