Leanne stops in her tracks.“What?Why would you do that?”
I groan, grabbing her arm to keep her moving.“I don’t know, okay?It just slipped out.”
“Slipped out?”she repeats, her tone skeptical.
I sigh, running a hand through my hair.“I thought… why not make him feel the way I feel every time he acts like a selfish, manipulative dick toward me?”I shrug like it’s no big deal, but the knot in my stomach says otherwise.
Leanne gives me a long, knowing look.“Did you have to, though?Don’t you want him?”
My chest tightens, but I force myself to answer.“He doesn’t want me.He’s with someone else—a blonde.Another unfortunate girl who has no idea what she’s getting herself into.”
The words taste bitter, and I hate how much it hurts to say them out loud.After everything, after I told him how I felt, he’s still out there with other women like none of it mattered.
Leanne keeps staring at me, and I know that look.Pity.
“Don’t do that,” I say, my voice trembling.“Don’t look at me like that.It’s not my fault I’ve never been in love before, and now I’m this… emotional wreck.”
Oh no.Did I just admit it?My heart sinks.
Leanne’s eyes widen, and a smirk spreads across her face.“You’re in love, huh?”
I glare at her, but she just giggles.
“I knew it,” she says, clearly enjoying this.“I knew it wasn’t just a crush.I’m glad you’re finally admitting it.”
I groan, pressing my fingers to my temples.“It’s pointless.He’s Fox Wilder.The popular asshole every girl wants to hook up with.He doesn’t care about me or how I feel.I tried talking to him, but—” I pause, shaking my head.“It’s just exhausting.He’s too much.”
Leanne nudges me playfully with her shoulder.“So, you’re gonna give him time to figure out he wants you?”
“I don’t know,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper.“I hope he does.But it’s so frustrating that no one’s ever made me feel this way before.”
The words hang in the air, heavy with regret and longing.I bite my tongue, silently berating myself for talking about Fox so much.
Leanne breaks the silence with a grin.“Wanna party with me?”
I raise an eyebrow at her.“It’s Monday, Leanne.”
She laughs.“Fair point.I’ll see you around, though.”
I nod.
Her expression softens.“And seriously, stop stressing about Fox.You’ll be okay, hon.”Before I can protest, she wraps her arms around me in a quick hug.
“You’ll be okay,” she repeats, pulling back to smile at me.“You’re too cute to be this depressed over some guy.Trust me—if he feels the same way, he’ll come around.Especially now that you’ve told him you’re seeing someone.He’ll stew over it.Guys like Fox always do.”
I offer her a faint smile, trying to believe her words.
Leanne reaches up to brush my shoulder-length blonde hair out of my face.“And don’t even think about cutting this hair.I love this look on you.”She pats my shoulders gently.
I let out a small laugh.“Thanks for the pep talk.”
“Anytime, nerd.”She winks at me before turning and walking away, leaving me standing there with my thoughts.
It’s kind of strange how most of my friends are older than me, and I’m the youngest in the group.I laugh softly at the thought, rolling my eyes at myself.
A heavy arm suddenly wraps around my shoulder, jolting me out of my thoughts.
“What the hell was that?”Landon asks, his gaze flicking toward where Leanne disappeared around the corner.
