Page 159

Pauly

MIKEY.

NO.

Do u seriously not remember when he came out last year????

I … did not.

A wave of intense guilt washed over me. I set my phone face down on the cushion next to my thigh, dragging my hand down my face and letting my head flop back. I blew out a rough breath, staring up at the overhead light fixture. How had I missed something that huge about one of my best friends?

My phone buzzed next to me, and I picked it back up.

Pauly

U his post, mikey

Please tell me u remember.

I grimaced, typing out my shameful confession.

Me

I don’t read captions, k?

I mostly like and keep scrolling.

Pauly

U are never going 2 live this down.

I can’t wait to tell Sal.

Me

Please don’t.

Pauly

Nope. I’m totally ratting u out.

Me

I feel terrible.

Pauly

Good. U should.

I dropped my phone face down onto my chest and stared out the window at the falling snow. Pauly was right—I should feel terrible. I was a shitty friend. I spent so much time focused on hockey that I’d neglected the people who’d always had my back. I needed to do better.

I would be better.

Sighing, I leaned forward and picked up my mug to drown my guilt in caffeine. But my cappuccino had gone cold, the foam sticking to the side of the mug. Gross.

My phone buzzed on my chest, and I lifted it back up, scared to see if Pauly had just hit me with another bomb that proved how clueless I’d been.

Pauly