“Because Sloane has another birthday gift for me at home, one that would certainly get us kicked out if she gave it here.” Asher winks at his cousin.
Wes clenches his jaw. “It seems like she’d rather stay here.”
Asher steps closer to Wes. “No, it seems likeyouwould rather her stay here.”
“Okay, okay,” I say. “It’s fine, Wes, I— Yeah, I told Asher I had another gift at home. It’s... it’s not what you’re thinking, though.”
“It is,” Asher says, being an ass. “Come on,” he says to me, grabbing my hand and heading toward the door.
“Sloane.” Wes catches my other hand. “Will you just... call me if you want to talk... about anything?”
“Um, yeah, sure.” I give a small wave over my shoulder to my friends as we leave.
“You are one hundred percentnotcalling him.” Asher leans back in the passenger seat, texting on his phone. Probably telling this girl he’s on the way. “If he wants to talk, he can do it on the trip.”
I roll my eyes.
“You’re quiet tonight,” he says. “Usually I can’t get you to shut up.”
“I’m annoyed that I have to drop you off at a booty call.”
“She lives in your complex—you’re basically just driving us back to your place. Like a girlfriend would do.”
“Don’t call me that.” We pull into the parking lot, past rows androws of the same-looking building before stopping at mine. “You can walk to hers.”
“Moody Sloane.” Asher tsks. “You know, I’ve missed that bitchy little attitude of yours this past month.” I roll my eyes and we walk up onto the sidewalk, stopping at the landing to the stairs. “Thank you again for the gift. Now I don’t have to illegally stream it.”
“You’re welcome,” I say.
We both stand there facing each other for a moment in the brisk November night, our breath forming puffs of smoke in the air. His eyes roam over me and it feels like he’s debating on hugging me or something. But then his mouth quirks up in that grin he does before he says something annoying.
“You sure you don’t want to be the one to—”
“No.” I turn to walk up my stairs and he stands there watching me go. “Happy birthday, asshole.”
Chapter 18
Thanksgiving used to be my third-favorite holiday. My birthday being the first and Christmas being the second. But today, the last thing I want to do is go back to Cedar Falls to make small talk with the family when all I really want is to sit alone in my room and order takeout. Adrienne went home on Monday, but I still had class so I couldn’t trap her in the car for an hour for an interrogation. I wonder if she did it on purpose.
The whole way home I practice smiling in the mirror, making sure it looks genuine and real. I rehearse the lines I’ll say to my family at dinner.
“School is great! I can’t believe I only have a semester left!
“I don’t have a job lined up yet, but I have some promising interviews scheduled!
“Yes, I am still good friends with Dani and Annica. They’re doing great; they say hi!
“I only look thin, frail, and lifeless because I’m being set up to go to prison forever and my life is crumbling around me!”
When my mom opens the door to see me standing there aloneher face falls. “Where’s Asher?” She looks past me like maybe he’s still getting out of the car.
“He has a family to spend the holidays with too, Mother.”
“Oh.” She frowns and looks me up and down. “Really, Sloane? You look like you just got out of bed.”
I roll my eyes, walking past her into the mudroom. “That’s because I did.”
“I just can’t believe you couldn’t have at least brushed your hair. This is a holiday after all,” she says, following behind me, before her whole demeanor changes as we walk out into the kitchen, where all of Don’s family is seated around the table. “Look who’s here!” she says excitedly, like she wasn’t just berating me for how I look.
