“Hell yes.” Ellie punches the pillow and tosses the rest of her drink back, then slams the empty cup onto the table. She picks up her phone and starts typing. Pacey tips her drink too, and I’m so freaking nervous that I do the same. I swallow the remnants of sangria, even slurping up the fruit at the bottom.
“Uber will be here in ten minutes. Let’s fucking gooo!” Ellie pumps her fist in the air.
Pacey seems hesitant, but she jumps up, grabs her coat, and slips it on.
“Guys, we should think this through,” I say. “We’re drunk.”
Ellie shoots me a look. Okay, I’m drunk. Just me because Ellie has the tolerance of a 250-pound man, and Pacey has been pacing herself. I had no idea we were going to be leaving this apartment or I would’ve done the same.
“She needs her stuff, Liv,” Ellie says.
“But maybe we should call the guys first. Penn can go with us.” I start to pull out my phone.
Pacey lifts a hand. “No! Youcannottell my brother.” Her voice is pleading, desperate even, and it only makes me more anxious. “Look, Ryan probably isn’t even home. We’ll just run in, grab some of my stuff, and leave.”
I nod, but a bad feeling rolls over me.
The bad feeling only intensifies as we ride in the back of an Uber to Pacey’s old house. I stare quietly out the window as they chat. I’m afraid I might vomit if I open my mouth, and Ican’t tell if I’m truly that drunk or if it’s the nerves flapping around in my stomach like a flock of angry birds. This is a horrible freaking idea. I pinch my lips closed, anxiety-induced puke threatening to come up.
My phone vibrates my butt cheek, and I slip it from my pocket.
Penn:
I miss you
My heart squeezes. I miss him too. I want to tell him what we’re doing, but I promised Pacey I wouldn’t. Does this qualify as lying to your boyfriend—who’s not actually your boyfriend?
Olivia:
missss you tooo
The screen blurs as I type, but I manage to hit send.
Penn:
had too much Barbie?
Olivia:
psht nooo!
Penn:
mmhm. You know I know when you’re lying right?
Oh shit, he is really freaking good at detecting lies. It’s scary. The CIA should hire him.
I shift in the seat. He’s going to know.
“He’s not going to know,” Ellie huffs.
Damn, did I say that aloud again?
Penn:
you girls having fun?
I stare at his message. Yes, they’re definitely havingfun. Too much fun. Plotting the best way to get in if Ryan has moved the spare key from the pot on the porch. Pacey says he never locks the windows, and she can shimmy in.
