AS SOON AS Kendra left the room, Madi started to question herself again. She reached into Kendra’s purse and pulled out her cell phone, dialing a number. She answered almost immediately.
“Hello?”
Madi almost couldn’t get the words out. “Ang?”
“Madi? Is that you? I didn’t recognize the number.”
“It’s me. Do you know?” Madi asked.
“Jake told me everything. Have you spoken to him?”
“I can’t… It’s too hard. I don’t want to hear his lies.”
Ang sighed into the phone. “You have to remember, there are two sides to every story, Madi. There’s another side to this whole thing. You need to hear him out.”
“What could he possibly say to me? That he’s sorry?”
“I think you need to hear it from him. Just try to remember who he is. Remember what you know about him and how much he loves you.”
Madi instantly regretted calling her. She should have known Ang would be on Jake’s side. “I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.”
Madi ended the call and crossed her arms over her chest. She paced the room, not knowing what to do with herself. She needed to remember what she had seen and what he had done. There were definitely two sides—two sides to Jake Morgan. One made you believe in him, and the other made you question every word he’d ever said. Madi grabbed her earbuds and searched her music. She needed a song to make her stronger.
A few seconds later, Kendra opened and closed the door, leaning into it for support.
Madi pulled the pods from her ears. She’d only heard part of “Jar of Hearts” by Christina Perri. “Did you tell him? Did you tell him it’s over? I hope he’s gone.”
Kendra teetered her head back and forth as she shifted her balance.
“He’s still here, isn’t he?”
“Yes,” Kendra replied. “But I kinda said I’d talk to you.”
“What?” Madi asked in shock. “Why would you do that? Oh no. Did you fall for his deep-blue come-hither eyes, too? I thought you were immune to his games.”
“I didn’t fall for shit. It’s just… Well, I don’t know how he could be making this up.”
“Kendra! He’s a performer. He tells a story every time he sings, every time he opens his mouth. He’s fooled me one too many times. I can’t do this. I’m not going to let myself believe him again. There’s no way he can explain this… no way he can explain why his mouth was pressed to hers. I need to get a grip. A few minutes ago I almost had a nervous breakdown.”
Kendra eyed her for a moment and pursed her lips. “You’re probably right,” Kendra said with a shrug and a yawn. “Should we get some dinner?”
Madi paused, staring at Kendra’s carefree expression.
“What?” Kendra asked.
“That’s it?” Madi questioned with her hands propped open, still holding her earbuds. “I thought you told him you’d try.”
“You’ve already made up your mind. There’s no point. It’s probably for the best, like you said.”
Madi stared for another moment before glancing toward the door.
“I knew it. You aren’t sure. You want me to tell you it’s okay, don’t you?”
Madi crossed her arms. “I don’t need your permission.”
“No. You don’t. Even if I stood here and told you to hate him, that I didn’t believe him and not to listen to him, you’d still have to follow your heart. What does it tell you?”
Madi sighed as she glanced toward the window. “I don’t know. I want to be smart. I want to separate my heart from my head. When he’s near me, it’s like he’s a magnet. I can feel the pull.”
