Clo: You owe me!
“Harleigh, wait up.”
I looked up to find Nate jogging toward me. “How are you?”
“I’m okay, thanks.”
“Good, that’s… good. Although I kind of got the impression you’re ignoring me.”
“I…” Pressing my lips together, I stared up at him. What was there to say? I had ignored him. Because I didn’t know what to say, but not for the reasons I suspected he thought.
“You know, I get you’re with Wilder,” he whispered.
“That’s not…” Just ask him. Just rip the Band-Aid off and ask. “Did you tell your brother that we were all over at your house the other night?”
“What? No.” He blanched. “No way. I swear, I didn’t. Why, what happened?”
“Max said some things.”
Concern flitted across his expression. “What kinds of things are we talking about?”
“Not here.” I glanced at a couple of kids walking past us.
“Yeah, shit, okay.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I swear though, Harleigh, it wasn’t me. I would never—”
“Yeah, I know.” And part of me did.
But if it wasn’t Nate, and it wasn’t Celeste or Miles, who was it?
My head hurt. The last thing I needed was Max holding me to ransom. I’d managed to avoid him all day yesterday: feigning a headache, and binge-watching TV in my room. But I couldn’t avoid him forever.
“Mr. Miller, Miss Rowe,” the teacher said. “Will you be joining us this morning?”
“Be right there, sir.” Nate nodded, flicking me a concerned gaze.
“Come on, Maguire. Class awaits.” He went to sling his arm around my shoulder but hesitated, something flashing in his eyes. “My bad,” he murmured, moving ahead of me, and slipping into class.
I inhaled a shaky breath, wondering when life had gotten so complicated.
After third period, I went in search of Celeste. She hadn’t texted me to arrange to meet for lunch which was strange. But I quickly realized why when I spotted her and Miles arguing over by the stairs.
“Hey, guys.” I approached with caution. “What’s going on?”
“Oh, Harleigh, hey.” She swiped at her eyes, smiling. But it was a little too bright, too forced. “Nothing. We were just talking.”
“Talking, yeah.” Miles barely looked at me.
“What’s the matter?” I looked between them, the air thick around us.
“Honestly, it’s nothing.” Celeste glared at Miles and he recoiled, backing away slowly.
“I have an appointment with Miss Hanley, so I’ll see you guys later.” He took off down the hall, not sparing us a second glance.
“Okay, what happened?” I pinned Celeste with a knowing look.
“He… he’s pissed about Saturday.”
“Sat— you mean he’s pissed we hung out with Nix and the guys?”