“Don’t see what?” I glance through her most recent posts. “Is this because she changed her hair?”
“Her hair, her clothes, her makeup.” She points at a pic Gwen took last night. “Look, Astrid. Really look at it, and tell me she’s not trying to be you.”
I do see what Paige is saying, but it’s not what she thinks. It can’t be. “She started embracing her girly side when she was with Scott.”
“Astrid.” Paige curls her arm around me, peering deep into my eyes. “I adore you. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, but you are completely naïve when it comes to Gwen. Wake up and smell the coffee, girl, before she steals every aspect of your life, including your man.”
I burst out laughing, which is a miracle when I’m destroyed inside. How will I tell Callan I’ll have to return to the US after summer break because I don’t have a London college place? “Callan can barely tolerate Gwen. She’s been driving him nuts.”
“So why is she still living with him?”
“She’s not. She moved out three weeks ago.”
“No, she didn’t.” Sympathy splays across her face as she points to a couple of the most recent pics. “Unless I’m mistaken, isn’t that Callan’s kitchen in the background?”
I swallow thickly because, yes, Paige is right. ThatisCallan’s apartment. “I don’t understand,” I whisper. “Why did they both tell me she’d moved out if she hasn’t?” I rub at the knot forming in my chest. “Maybe she was visiting him.”
“As you’ve rightly pointed out, Callan doesn’t like her, and he fought with you for weeks over her. She wasn’t visiting. My guess is she never returned his key, and she took those pictures on purpose. You need to call Callan and tell him about those pics.”
“I’ve been trying to talk to him all week, but he’s been crazy busy, and we’ve only messaged.”
“You said he’s been acting a little distant. Do you think he knows, and maybe he’s afraid to say it to you, because I know I’ve been afraid to say anything. You get super defensive when it comes to Gwen.”
“Gwen wouldn’t do this to me.”
The pitying look on Paige’s face makes me feel like an innocent six-year-old who still thinks unicorns are real. “Don’t look at me like that!”
“I am only saying this because I care. Maybe it’s not Gwen. But how do you explain the college applications?”
“I can’t,” I whisper. “What if someone is stalking me?” I sit up straighter. “Oh my god. What if it’s one of the girls on campus who wanted Callan and she’s trying to split us up? Or it could be one of those nasty online trolls impersonating me.”
“Or it could be Gwen.”
“Paige, just drop it. I agree that Gwen’s been evasive lately, and I need an answer as to why she’s taking selfies in my boyfriend’s kitchen, but she wouldn’t try to fuck up my relationship or my future. She wouldn’t do that to me.”
“I have a harder time believing some random student on campus or some crazy bitch online did this, but I suppose it’s plausible.” She squeezes me in a bear hug, and I soak up her warmth because I feel chilled to the bone.
“If someone is out to get me, what more might they do?” A shiver works its way through me.
“You should talk to Beth, and I’d go to campus security too.” Beth is our RA and she’s always been helpful.
“I want to talk to Callan first. I’ll see what he says and take it from there.”
“Finally,” I say when Callan picks up. I’ve been messaging and calling him for hours, and honestly, I’m a little pissed. My messages said it was urgent and I needed to speak to him ASAP. I know he’s not always contactable, but I know he’s read them, so why the fuck didn’t he say it was an emergency and call me immediately?
“Azzie.”
All the blood drains from my face when I hear Gwen’s voice and see her smiling face.
“What are you doing answering Callan’s cell?” I look behind her, and my heart falters. “Why the hell are you in his bedroom?”
“Cal’s in the shower. I know you’ve been calling and messaging for hours, and I don’t think it’s fair to continue doing this to you. I’ve told him he needs to man up and tell you, but it’s obvious he’s waiting for me to do it.” She rolls her eyes, and I’m so confused.
My heart is racing like crazy, and pressure sits on my chest. “What are you talking about?” I hate how my voice trembles, and I really wish Paige were here, but she’s studying in the library.
“I’m so sorry, Azzie.” She doesn’t sound in any way apologetic. “We didn’t plan to fall in love, but it just happened.” She wears heart eyes as she stares at me. “We didn’t know how to tell you, but I couldn’t keep deceiving you. It’s been killing me.”
I crack up laughing. “You can’t expect me to believe that. Callan doesn’t evenlikeyou.”
