Uh-oh.
“I was naïve to trust you. You threw shit all over me and now I find out you were doing it behind Brian’s back? Without even telling me, your best friend?”
“Poppy, quiet down,” I whispered when I noticed Brian enter near us.
“June was the only one not to judge me,” Poppy insisted.
Ari looked at me furtively and suddenly seemed to find her words.
“June, did you know about Poppy?”
“Yeah, but I think Poppy’s right, there’s no point in you criticizing her when you—”
“I can’t believe this! She’s the one who told Taylor! You knew about me, too, didn’t you?”
“What do I have to do with it?”
Voices were being raised quickly, and the people’s eyes were starting to turn toward us.
“You knew about me too? Tell me the truth, did he tell you?” They were both staring at me.
And if the music was a few decibels lower, Amelia would’ve heard everything. At that point, she would’ve blown up. Sure, finding out your best friend was cheating on your brother for over a year with your worst enemy wouldn’t be pleasant.
“Listen.” I stood up, like I wanted to get distance from the situation. “If you guys avoided sleeping with the same guy it would be easier to be honest with each other, don’t you think?”
They all looked at me, so I continued.
“James isn’t the only guy in the world. Why can’t you be with someone who makes you feel special instead of someone who . . . who . . .”
I didn’t know how to continue anymore. Maybe Will was right about the full moon.
“Is this a birthday party or a funeral?” I recognized that warbling voice right away.
Taylor was exactly who we needed to make the evening complete.
“Should we go to your room?”
Taylor was wearing a pastel-pink outfit and pushed a big bottle of champagne in front of Poppy’s face.
“Let’s play a game. This is so boring here.”
“Sure. Too many fake people here.”
Surprisingly, Poppy listened to Taylor, got up and went to get some of our classmates.
Was it time for me to go home? Yes, it absolutely was.
I let the girls disperse and went to the kitchen, where Will was drinking a juice with James. Jackson peered out the door.
“You eat breakfast at ten at night, James?”
“I’m hungry, and the cupcakes are gone. Where the fuck were you, Jax?” retorted James, staring at his friend from head to toe.
“I was here.”
“I didn’t see you. Where’s here?”
Jackson gulped nervously. “Here. There are other cookies. And chill,”he spat, opening a new packet to give James.
