And if he didn’t, her tone made it clear.
“If he honestly thinks he’s going to get to me through you, I should probably let you both know: that’s the fucking stupidest plan I’ve ever heard of.”
“That…no. No, I just saw you and thought…”
“Thought what, Chad? That I might flash a boob and let you get another picture?”
To his credit he turned crimson and looked away.
And then less to his credit, he kept trying.
Christ, why did they keep trying?
“So I guess thatiswhy you don’t talk to him anymore. Because of me.”
“Is that really what you’re claiming he told you? That this is allyourfault?”
She put just the right amount of sarcasm in her voice.
But it didn’t have any effect. He was on a roll now, apparently.
“He doesn’t tell me anything anymore. We haven’t talked since the black eye, and even then it was pretty much justyou fucking fuck you fuck you if you ever do that again I will turn you into a fuck fuck fuck.”
“What exactly is afuck fuck fuck?”
“I dunno, but I didn’t want it to happen to me, so…”
“So you thought you’d come over here and pretend that you guys weren’t in on all of it together? You know I have to say, that was a pretty convincing attempt. It almost makes me want to hear what comes next.”
“Nothing comes next. I don’t even know what you’re talking about—there was noin on anythingtogether with Tate. I did a dumb thing and he threatened tofuck fuck fuckme, that was it. And if you’ve ever seen what he’s got in his underpants, you should totally understand why I am terrified of that. Like, I wouldn’t even be here talking to you if I thought he cared anymore, just in case this casual chat gets me a minifuck.”
“Wow. You are really good. I’m impressed.”
“You shouldn’t be. I’mbarelyfollowing this conversation.”
She stopped then—though not because she was falling for this, because she totally wasn’t. There was just something about the wordbarelyand the wordconversationthat made her want to push him, hard. Get real answers out of this fake-puzzled jackass.
“Are you honestly going to claim that you had no idea Tate was just screwing with me? That you’re not talking to me so he can screw with me some more? That’s really the play you’re going to make right now?”
“You guys broke up because he wasscrewingwith you? Like, as in a joke?”
Man, she didn’t like his tone at all. He sounded almost as horrified as she felt.
And still with that confusion, too.
She couldn’tstandhis confusion.
“Of course as in a joke. You know I mean as in a joke.”
“I don’t see how I could when he goes around looking like he wants to die.”
“Okay, you know what? It was really nice listening to this little fairy tale you’re spinning, and my estimation of your IQ has definitely gone up a few points. But I’ve got to get to class now.”
She stood up to leave—too fast, she knew. It didn’t feel like the right reaction.
There was something panicked about it, rather than outraged.
“Letty, just hold on a second. Just wait, okay? I don’t think you’ve got it right. If you did, if it was just some kind of prank, why would he be like this? He doesn’t talk to anyone, he’s dropped too much weight—Coach says that if he doesn’t straighten out he—”
