“Okay. I love you. Call me if you want me to come back.”
“Love you,” I whisper.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I’m desperate to block out what I overheard. When Camila slips in to check on me, I feign sleep. No different than the act I play again when the girls stumble in at three, just as I’m rising to start packing.
“Adelaide.” My voice is just about a whisper.
“Go away,” she groans, rolling over on her stomach, burying her head in the pillow.
“Ads. Get the hell up. We’re leaving.”
One eye cracks open. “What? I just got home.”
“Mase called the airline for us and moved us to the earlier flight. He got us a car. It will be here in ten minutes.”
She sits up, bleary-eyed, hair a mess, with makeup smudged down her face. It would make me laugh if I weren’t in such a rush, but I need to get out of here, stat.
“You packed for me?” she states, staring at all our bags.
“Yes.” I tug her arm, insistent. “I’m not kidding, get up.”
Her gaze sharpens, finally catching the panic on my face. “What’s going on?”
I throw my arms up. “I’ll explain in the car.”
“Maddie Grace.”
“I was never sick. I overheard Camila talking to the guys, and she pretty much set me up. Nate will arrive within the next few hours. I need to leave.”
She sits in shock for a moment until she jumps up. “Fuck. Yeah, okay. Let’s get out of here.”
The second the plane lands in Georgia, my phone buzzes. I brace for it to be Camila, but when I see it’s Leo, my stomach dips.
Leo: I understand why you left, but please message my sister. She is distraught. Hasn’t stopped crying for hours.
Leo: She bamboozled you. You have a right to be upset, but she thought she was helping. We all want you guys back together.
“Ugh!” I show Addie Leo’s text and then respond.
Not happening. But I’ll message Camila now.
My finger hovers for only a second before I start typing again, letting my emotions pour out into the message.
I know your heart was in the right place, but you betrayed me. You took advantage of our private conversation and used it to your advantage. You’re Nate’s sister, but you are also my best friend and know how much I’ve struggled over the last two years. It’s not your job to choose when I’m ready, if ever, to talk to him again. And to ambush me on my first real vacation? A trip that was supposed to celebrate you? That’s messed up.
Her reply comes fast.
Camila: I’m so sorry, Maddie. I love you so much. You’re much more to me than a best friend. You’re a sister, and I fucked up big time. I thought I was helping…even if it was to give you closure.
I swallow hard, the sting burning behind my eyes.
I got closure at graduation. He broke something in me that won’t ever fully heal.I see that now. What I need is to move forward.
I need some space for right now.
Camila: Maddie…please don’t push me away. I’m so, so, so, so sorry. Please forgive me.
I know. But it’s what I need.
