“You did not.”
“Oh yeah—I totally did.What’sgoing on?”
If this phone had a cord, I would be twisting it around my hand anxiously.
I told Duke I wouldn’t say anything.
It was as good as a promise.
“Posey.” Molly’s voice is soft. Concerned. “Are you…sleeping with Duke?”
It’s not telling her if she guesses and I admit to it, is it? Is that the same thing?
I nod even though she can’t see me. “Yes.” My voice is just above a whisper. “But it was only once.” Last night. And it was fun and exciting and sexy—and something we both needed.
Wanted.
“So that’s what has you so upset.”
“I’m not so upset. I’m…I’m…confused.” I’m still speaking quietly, afraid I can’t trust my own voice not to crack. “It’s no big deal. I’ll get over it. It’s not like we’re dating or anything.”
But he’s my fucking hero for so many reasons.
“It was just sex.”
Liar, liar…
“Are you sure?”
“Obviously, it was just sex, Molly.” My voice is getting louder now. “It’s Duke Colter. Of course that’s all it was.”
Molly chooses her words slowly. “What do you mean by that?”
“He’s Duke Colter, and I’m Posey Kettner—a freakingteacherin a dinky town who isn’t beautiful or glamorous. I don’t know the right people, and all I do is yell at him. As if he’d be interested in anything other than sex from me.”
My chest is heaving, and here come the tears I hadn’t wanted to cry.
Angry now, I wipe the first one away.
“Are you hearing yourself right now?” Molly volleys back. “Like, do you even hear what you’re saying?”
“Pfft.” I snort.
Molly laughs at me. “Dear Lord, do not tell me I raised you like this,” she chastises as if she were my mom. “I am literally from the same town, or have you forgotten? And I literally worked from home, never went out, and hate people—or have you forgotten? Yet Eli found me interesting enough, NAY! He liked the fact that I wasn’t glamorous, don’t have giant boobs, and I’m not fake. Are you forgetting that?” She’s getting herself all riled up. “My job is so boring, remember? I sit at a desk. What’s so great about me? Nothing.”
“Knock it off, Molly Summervale. We both know you’re amazing and a fantastic catch.”
“But I don’t know any of the right people.”
“So what? Who cares! Screw those people.”
She chuckles on the other end of the phone, and I narrow my eyes.
“Oh, I see what you’re doing. Don’t try to reverse psychology me into thinking a professional football player is interested.”
“Since when are you such a sad Sally? Where did the confident Posey go? Huh? The one who elbowed that sleaze Brian in the gut and told off Duke Colter in your kitchen?”
“She’s butt hurt that he left without saying goodbye.”