“Augh.” I roll over, bury my face in the pillow, and scream.
From beside me, my phone buzzes softly. Pulling the pillow off my head, I sit up and look at Hazel’s message.
Alec said he’s fine. In fact, Ronan’s over at Max’s place. They’re watching some weird sport like cheese rolling or competitive dodgeball. Apparently, Max texted all the guys to invite them over. You didn’t hear this from me, but I think there’s something going on with Max and Sage. And Max isn’t happy about it.
A beat later, another text blinks onto the screen.
Well, duh. Everyone knows something’s going on with Max and Sage. But this time, Max is extra grumpy about it.
My heart lurches. My nose stings. A lump swells in my throat.
Ronan isn’t sick.
He’s not at home, resting.
He’s at Max’s. Watching sports. Probably sitting around drinking beer.
I swallow hard to keep from crying.
He said he wasn’t feeling well. And now he’s at Max’s.
Hurt balloons inside me until there’s no room for anything else.
He lied to me. He said he wasn’t feeling well, but it was just an excuse.
My phone lights up with another text. It’s Hazel.
Are you okay?
Feeling numb, I quickly reply to her.
Yup. Just going to bed. Have fun with your game. Night.
Then I toss the phone onto the mattress and bury my face in the pillow again. Within seconds, the fabric is damp.
Why did he lie to me?
What happened?
Did I do something wrong?
Amid the hurt, a spark of anger flares.
How could he?
If he didn’t care about me, why let things go on for so long?
Ronan’s an adult. If he wasn’t interested, he should have just said something. I’m not a child. I would have been disappointed, but I would have accepted it.
From the other side of the mattress, my phone buzzes again. Hazel, most likely, asking if I’m really okay.
If I were sure, I’d let her message go until tomorrow. But it could be Haley. Or Garrett, calling about a problem.
Or Ronan,a hopeful voice whispers.Maybe there’s more to this than you know.
With an extra-heavy sigh, I haul myself into a seated position.
“Forget little steam engine,” I say to myself. “I’m going full-size tonight.”
