Page 82 of Yearning Difficulties

I blinked. ‘How do you know that?’

Killian’s eyes widened at my question and for a moment he looked like a thief caught in the pantry.

Chris cleared his throat and quickly answered for his twin. ‘I told him. I was at Logan and Bibi’s party. Remember?’

I did. Vaguely. I remembered seeing Chris on my way out, at least. When Dad had shown up in a temper, demanding that I leave. I was grounded and parties were absolutely a violation of my domestic parole.

‘I don’t feel like going,’ Cherry said. ‘It’s going to be all the rich kids and their families, right?’

‘Right,’ Anderson acknowledged. ‘But there’s a scavenger hunt! With a cash prize! The more of us there are, the more likely we are to win.’

‘So we’re going as a group?’ Claire asked innocently. ‘I thought it was a date thing.’

‘It can be,’ Chris said, nudging Anderson. ‘We’re going together. But we can still be a group.’

I smiled at Chris. Happy for him. At least someone was clawing back a chance at happiness.

Claire’s eyes darted to mine. ‘But aren’t you going with Dave Valvert, Zella?’

Her question was obviously meant without any ill intention but I resented her for it anyway. I hadn’t decided yet. But that obviously hadn’t stopped Dave from opening his mouth. I caught sight of Killian’s face in my peripheral vision.

He was visibly angry and glaring at me.

‘I told him I’d think about it,’ I said truthfully.

‘Tell him you’ve thought about it and the answer is no,’ Killian replied.

I finally looked at him properly. ‘Why would I do that?’

Hurt flashed across his face. ‘You want to go with him?’

‘I want to go, period. I don’t need a boy to take me.’

‘Preach,’ Cherry muttered out of the corner of her mouth as she scribbled some new song lyrics into her binder.

‘Who’re you going with, Killian?’ Claire pressed, leaning towards him with obvious intent. She brushed her thin hair out of her eyes and waited for his answer.

I returned to my notes. He was getting everything he wanted, that didn’t mean I had to watch. His Mystery Girl was finally offering herself up to him on a silver platter, despite his protestations that she didn’t know he existed. He should be elated. I should be elated for him, as his friend.

Instead, I highlighted notes on Lucy Steele and Elinor Dashwood and said nothing.

‘I . . .’ Killian spoke haltingly. ‘I wasn’t going to ask . . . anyone.’

Anderson drew in a sharp breath. Chris met my eyes and then quickly looked away again. Even Cherry stared at her cousin with open disbelief. I inwardly prayed for a change of subject or maybe some kind of distraction. Maybe the sprinklers suddenly erupting and dousing us all in water would be welcome.

‘Cherry? Is that your name? Cherry?’

Sterling Cavendish’s icy question proved to be an almost welcome arrival. We all glanced over at her, sitting with her friends at another table. She smiled at Cherry but there was something predatory behind it.

‘Who’s asking?’ Cherry retorted, sounding completely unbothered.

‘You gave my boyfriend your little music album.’

I was about to correct her, but Cherry said, ‘Who’s your boyfriend?’

Sterling’s gaze darkened. ‘Logan Minola. Give it to lots of boys, do you?’

Cherry smirked. ‘I mean, I hear the thinly veiled slut-shaming in your question but no, your boyfriend isn’t someone I’ve lifted tail for. I don’t even know him.’