“Who?”
My fingers collide with the key fob. Thank God.
“Who?” Blake pushes when I don’t respond.
“Just a girl,” I say vaguely.
Silence.
I don’t want to see the look on her face, but I’m a masochist so I turn around. Her expression is too bright, her smile forced.
“Anybody I know?” she chirps.
“Doubt it.”
“Is it the girl who sent you the nudes on the boat?”
Her hurt tone triggers a prick of guilt. Which only makes me want to distance from it.
“Yes. Her.”
I could’ve stopped there. Could’ve walked out without another word. Instead, I force myself to twist the knife.
“She’s a fun time,” I add. “We hooked up last summer.”
I watch it land. The wounded flicker in Blake’s eyes. The way her shoulders pull back like she’s been slapped but doesn’t want to show it.
Good. Let her hate me. It’s better than the alternative. If this friendship between us is going to stick, then I need to quash the attraction. On both sides.
“Uh-huh. Cool.” Blake pauses. “Your vow of celibacy is null and void then?”
I exhale through my nose but say nothing. I’m a dick.
“If the sex is good, are you going to write a song about it?”
I stifle a sigh. “Blake—”
“Whatever, it’s fine. Have fun tonight.”
Her cavalier shrug is betrayed by the stiffness in her shoulders. She strides into the kitchen. I don’t follow her.
Instead, I slide out the front door to go pick up Mira.
Chapter 17
BLAKE
WYATT’S ON A DATE TONIGHT. That’s fun. I hope he has the best time.
Like the best time.
I don’t care that he’s on a date. Why would I? It’s not like I wanted to hang out with him or anything. I’m perfectly content to stay in and work on the puzzle. I love this puzzle. I’m not purposely jamming this piece into a spot I know is wrong, just to feel the resistance and bask in the power trip of doing something I know will make Wyatt angry.
Of course not.
JULIETTE
You should key his car.
