"Stomach thing," I lied. "Very contagious. Practically a biohazard."
"Take care of yourself, Emma."
I spent the day in bed, curtains drawn, my phone off. At some point, I heard a car slow near my driveway, then continue on. I didn't check if it was him. I couldn't afford to know.
By Saturday morning, I'd rehearsed my speech approximately four hundred times.
I'm so sorry, but I need to cancel tutoring. Work has been overwhelming. I should have communicated better. This isn't about you. I just need space.
Clean. Professional. Reasonable.
The speech evaporated the moment I saw Sarah's face.
Cole's truck pulled up at exactly ten. Sarah exploded from the passenger side, pink backpack bouncing, something clutched in her hands. Cole followed more slowly, his eyes scanning my windows.
I watched them approach from behind my curtain like a complete coward.
"She's probably just running late," I heard Cole say.
"She's never late," Sarah replied. "Emma is very punc... puncty..."
"Punctual."
"That word."
I forced myself to the door. My hand trembled on the knob. I opened it just enough to stand in the gap, a human barricade.
Sarah's face lit up like sunrise. "Emma! Look what I made!"
She thrust a folded piece of construction paper toward me. The outside showed three stick figures beside a lopsided blue triangle. A giant yellow sun beamed down. Inside, in careful, wobbly letters:Will you go kamping with us? Check yes or yes.
"There's no 'no' box," Sarah explained proudly. "Because no isn't an option."
My throat closed completely.
"Hey." Cole's voice was cautious, his blue eyes searching my face. "You didn't respond to my calls. I came by Thursday night."
"I know. I'm sorry. I was..." The excuse died on my tongue. "I was dealing with some things."
"What things?"
"Just... things."
Brilliant, Emma. Very convincing.
"I made a list for camping," Sarah continued, oblivious to the tension. "Marshmallows, sleeping bags, Emma, bug spray, more marshmallows, a flashlight, and Emma. You're on the list twice because I like you a lot."
Her words were a knife sliding neatly between my lies.
"Sarah." I crouched down to her level, hating myself more with every passing second. "That's such a beautiful invitation. But I can't go camping right now."
Her face flickered with confusion. "Why not?"
"I'm just... very busy with school."
"But it's Saturday."
"I have a lot of grading."
