“He’s harmless,” Zane says.
“That’s not what his reputation says.”
Zane rolls his eyes.“He’s not what people think he is.”
“That’s what everyone says about guys like him,” I counter.
“He’s my best friend,” Zane says simply.
That stops me.
“I trust him,” he adds.
Something about the way he says it makes me pause.
“I think it would be good for you,” he continues.“You’ve been through a lot. Getting out, meeting people, doing something normal again… that matters.”
I stare down at my mug. Normal. I’m not sure I remember what normal feels like.
“I don’t know,” I say quietly.
“You don’t have to decide now,” Zane says gently.“Just think about it.”
I nod.“I will.”
“And if it helps,” he adds,“Gwen will be there.”
That changes things.“Oh,” I say.
“Yeah.”
“Well then,” I shrug, pretending not to care too much.“Maybe.”
“That’s progress,” he smiles.
“I didn’t say yes.”
“You didn’t say no.”
I sigh.
“You’re annoying.”
“I’m persuasive.”
“Debatable.”
He grins.“Think about it,” he repeats.
I nod again, but this time I mean it. Because maybe he’s right. Maybe it would be good for me to go. Maybe it would be good to start living again. Even if that means running into Blake Saxon somewhere between the snacks and the music. And for reasons I don’t fully understand yet… that thought doesn’t scare me nearly as much as it probably should.
Chapter 8
Lisa
By the time I finish curling my hair for the second time, I’m already regretting saying yes to this party.
Not because I don’t want to go. Because I do. That’s the problem.
