She sits up and clacks her laptop shut.
“Finally you’re awake,” she says. “I am dying of suspense. What is yourvery baddrama?”
I don’t sugarcoat it.
“Gabe is here.”
Her jaw drops down comically, like she’s a cartoon.
“GabeNewhouse?”
“Yep.”
“How is that possible?”
“Apparently he’s treating his grandmother to celebrate her birthday.”
“That is psycho.”
“I know.”
“Did you talk to him?”
“I didn’t have a choice. He was on the surf expedition.”
“Did you push him off his board and drown him and now he’s dead and good riddance?”
“I kind of wish. He gave me a big heartfelt speech on how he regrets everything and wants a chance for ‘repair.’”
She stares at me.“Repair?”
I sigh. “Yeah. I know.”
“The only thing that needs repairing is his sense of goddamn decency and, like, hissoul. Tell me you told him to fuck off.”
I collapse into my pillows and groan.
“Hopie!” Lauren says. “Tell meyou told him to fuck off.”
“I panicked. I didn’t really know how to feel about it. I was mad but then there was that fraction of me that was like… relieved. Or flattered. Or something? Ugh, Lauren, why am Ilikethis?”
I’m expecting a lecture—I’m inviting a lecture—but she comes to sit next to me on my bed and strokes my hair. “I get it,” she says.
“You do?”
“I do. It’s natural to want people to feel badly for hurting you. But remember,” she says, tapping me on the shoulder for emphasis, “he was always good at saying the right thing. That’s why you fell for him. It’s how he treats you once he has you locked down that’s the problem.”
“I know, I know.” I sigh. “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”
“That’s what I’m here for. Setting your ass straight.”
“That’s not all of it though,” I say.
“Lord deliver us. What now?”
“Felix showed up just as Gabe was basically on the verge of trying to kiss me. And… we ended up having lunch with him and his sisters.”
“What? How? Why?”
