“Addie,” he calls out and I turn around. “Is this the girl you said you hated, even though you kissed her?”
I nod, feeling a little embarrassed for denying it that other time he asked me. “She hates me too.”
He stands there for a moment, as if he’s recalling a memory thoughtfully. “She does this thing when she walks out of our door…she stands outside for a few minutes and waits for your bedroom light to go off before she leaves.” He smiles softly and shrugs. “That doesn’t sound like someone who hates you.”
He walks away slowly after that, giggling under his breath like some schoolboy.
Maybe Juliette doesn’t hate me anymore or maybe she still does. That doesn’t matter because shelovesme.
Juliette Kingston loves me and I can’t help the dread that takes over my body at the thought. I pretended not to hear it, didn’t I? Can I keep pretending? If I do, then it’s almost as if she didn’t say it at all. Almost as if I don’t have to answer or respond at all.
Chapter THIRTY-EIGHT
J u l i e t t e
Idon’t say anything to Adaline about how she didn’t say I love you back to me or how she pretended like I didn’t say it. I don’t mention it for the next few days after our date or weeks and somehow, it’s been months and it’s as if I never said it at all.
I don’t regret saying it, I meant every word. The only thing I regret is not saying it again. I haven’t so much as uttered the word “love” again toward her.
For the most part, everything has been as impeccable as ever—the same dates, the same perfect sex—but I’d be lying if I said that the feeling of dread hasn’t been gnawing at my chest this last month.
We haven’t spoken about what I said and even if I did bring it up now, she’d probably be too busy. I’ve only seen her a handful amount of times this month because she’s been busy making final touches in preparations for her brother’s wedding.
“Hey, you okay?” Kai snaps his fingers in my face, getting my attention.
We just had our final math exam and my brain is completely fried. Most of my exams are now finished but I still have biology left. Adaline already did her biology exam early and the rest of them besides English.
“Yeah, just tired.” I sigh, rubbing my head. “What were you saying?”
“I was asking for your tailor’s name. You know the one who does the tuxes?” He ruffles his hair around.
“Victor? Yeah I can give you his number. Why?”
“For Adam's wedding next week,” he says, shutting his locker.
“You’re invited to that?” I ask, shocked.
“Yeah, I’m Victoria’s plus one.” He furrows his eyebrows. “Didn’t Adaline tell you?”
She hasn’t told me much about the wedding. I even asked her about what dress she would be wearing, but she didn’t respond. I just assumed there wasn’t much news pertaining to it.
I shake my head. “Not really.”
“Well, maybe it’s because she knows you don’t want to be out yet. She’s probably just being cautious,” he says gently, putting his hand on my shoulder.
Or maybe Adam didn’t want to invite me, I know he’s not my biggest fan so it makes sense.
I nod. “I’ll ask her about it later, I haven’t even seen her this morning.”
“She didn’t come to school,” Kai says, confused like I should already know this.
“She didn’t?”
“No, Vic said she’s sick.”
“Sick?!”
***
