“I can’t say.”
“Jackson, I’m really getting tired of this.”
“Tired of what?”
“You hiding whatever you’re doing with Kristen. Why can’t you tell me?”
“Because I told her I wouldn’t.”
“That was before you had a girlfriend. It’s different now. You and I can’t have a relationship if you and her have all these secrets I’m not allowed to know about.”
“It’ll be over soon. I promise.”
“That’s not good enough,” I say, getting angry. “I want it to end. I want you to stop seeing her and stop letting her come over.”
“I can’t. Not yet.”
“Then at least tell me what this is about.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”
“Then don’t call me again until you can.” I hang up on him, furious that he’s being so stubborn about this yet being so loyal to Kristen. I’m giving him all this information about Braden and his team, and he can’t even give me a tiny clue about what’s going on with him and Kristen.
I finish my lasagna, then try to do my English homework, but end up falling asleep. I wake up at midnight and check my phone, assuming Jackson would’ve tried to call me back, but he didn’t. There isn’t even a text from him.
Maybe I took it too far. Maybe I should’ve respected his privacy, and I would have if it didn’t involve Kristen. I don’t trust her. She wants Jackson for herself, and she’ll do anything to get him.
* * *
In the morning, I go out to the car early, so I don’t have to deal with Trystan yelling at me. He does it anyway.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were out here?” he asks, getting in the car. “I was searching the whole damn house for you.”
“You keep telling me to get out here early and now you’re yelling at me?”
“Because you never actually do what I say.” He speeds out of the driveway and down the street. He’s a horrible driver. I can’t believe he hasn’t had an accident.
“Ready for your date tomorrow?” I ask, laughing a little.
“Why is that funny?” He slams on the brakes as we approach a stop sign.
“I’ve just never heard you talk about girls.”
“You’ve only known me a few weeks. And I keep that shit quiet. I don’t go around telling people who I’m with.”
“Have you had many girlfriends?”
“I’ve had girls, not girlfriends. There’s no way I’m having a girlfriend after the shit Braden’s been through.”
“You mean with Andrea?”
“Andrea. Kristen. Alyssa.”
“Braden dated Alyssa?”
“He was going to, until she started accusing him of shit. I swear all those bitches want to do is bring him down. They go after the most popular guy in school, then try to be the girl who’ll destroy him, like it’s a fucking challenge and there’s a prize for the winner.”
“I don’t think that’s their intention. Braden is still the most popular guy in school.”
