“Sage… I don’t understand what’s happening. I haven’t talked to Ethan.”
She laughed again — sharp, brittle, wrong.
“Liar.”
“I swear,” I said quickly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I haven’t called him. I haven’t done anything.”
Another pause. Then her voice shifted — syrupy, almost reasonable.
“You know whatdoesmake sense?” she said. “That Seth showed up.”
I swallowed hard.
“He’s local,” I said, seizing the opening. “He helps Ethan with the house. When renters book it on Craigslist, when stuff breaks — he’s basically the handyman. The super. So yeah, it makes sense that he was there. He probably called Ethan and Ethan told him you shouldn’t be there.”
I rushed the words out, afraid to leave space.
“I had nothing to do with it, Sage. Nothing.”
She didn’t answer right away.
When she did, she was smiling.
“I know you moved back in with your mom,” she said softly.
My stomach dropped.
“I helped you get that new job, remember?” she went on. “Your résumé. Your cover letter. I rewrote half of it. Who was one of your references again?”
My pulse thundered in my ears.
“Me.”
Her laughter exploded — wild, manic, echoing.
“I just got out ofjail, bitch,” she cackled. “My other friends posted bail. I knew better than to call you.”
My vision blurred.
“I got charged with felonies, Beth,” she screeched. “Felonies! Which means I’m getting fired. Which means I won’t be able to get another job. Do you know what that does to someone like me?”
“Sage, please?—”
“You ruined my life!” she screamed. “You ruined my life, Beth! This isyourfault!”
“No,” I sobbed. “I love you. You’re my best friend. I was scared for you. I just want to help you. Please — let me help you. We can find you a counselor. I’ll be there for you?—”
“I am NOT crazy!” she shrieked. “You’re the problem. You always were.”
The line went dead.
I stared at my phone, chest heaving, my whole body shaking.
Something had changed.
This wasn’t rage anymore.
This was certainty.
