your dead parents is just a cover, isn’t it?” Isobel said callously. “That’s how he managed to hide you for so long.”
Rachael leaned forward. “Why’s he coming forward now?” she asked eagerly. “Is it because his wife has been dead for a while, and he’s not ashamed of you anymore?”
“Oh my god,” I huffed.
Ryan could be helping me out right now, but he was too busy making googley eyes at his crush. The girls weren’t going to stop harassing me about something I had no intention of speaking to them about, so my only option was to leave.
“I’ve had enough yoga for today,” I announced as I stood.
“Katya!” Rachael complained. “You haven’t even answered one of our questions. We didn’t come all the way out here for nothing.”
My jaw dropped. That was the only reason they agreed to come with us? I should have expected something like this, but I still felt a flash of anger. We weren’t close, and things could get competitive at times, but we also had some good moments of comradery in the past. However, I wasn’t a circus animal here for their entertainment, and I wasn’t going to sit here for this nonsense.
I shook off my yoga mat and quickly rolled it up. I’d clean it really well when I got home, but I wanted to get out of here. Now.
There was an awkward silence as I grabbed my water bottle and slung my bag over my shoulder. Ryan hadn’t moved to pick up his stuff, and I felt a pang of hurt. I guess I was on my own. I shot a bitter look in his direction.
“I’ll see you at home,” I said irritably in his direction.
“Wait!” Brett exclaimed as he climbed to his feet. “I’ll go with you, so you don’t have to ride the subway on your own.”
“Thanks,” I said with a hesitant smile.
“Yeah,” Ryan agreed as he rolled up his yoga mat. “Give us a second.”
I rolled my eyes. Now that Brett was coming, Ryan was all about leaving? Traitor.
Rachael said something snide to the other girls, and they all chuckled. I didn’t catch their words, but it was obviously a dig at me. They could have their laughs – I had more important things to worry about.
I turned on my heel and walked away. Those girls were a waste of my time, and I wasn’t going to stand here and trade insults with them. They didn’t get what they wanted, and now they were reverting into their usual mean girl roles.
Brett and Ryan caught up to me quickly, and Brett flashed a bright smile at in my direction.
“Sorry,” Brett said. “Those girls can be real bitches sometimes.”
I shrugged as if I’d already forgotten the incident. “It’s whatever.”
Brett chuckled. “Ryan’s lucky to have you as a friend,” he said brightly. “Not only are you ridiculously talented, but you’re also really chill.”
Ryan frowned, and I wondered what was bothering him. Was Ryan jealous Brett was paying attention to me instead of him? Or was he worried that Brett and I would become friends and leave him out?
I sighed. I was completely over all the drama in my life. Why couldn’t things just be simple?
“I’m the lucky one,” I answered Brett with a tight smile.
We got to the stairway to the subway, and I lead the way. The three of us maneuvered through the crowd until we could stand together on the platform.
“You wanna come to our place to hang out?” Ryan offered.
“Sure,” Brett said with a smile flashed in my direction.
Ryan looked irritated, but Brett didn’t notice. I sighed. This was going to be an awkward evening if things kept going this way.
“What are your plans for summer?” I asked Brett to make conversation. Maybe I could set him and Ryan up on a real date.
Brett shrugged. “The same as usual. I’ll be around.”
“Cool.”
My eyes caught on a man hovering on the other side of the platform, and I grabbed Ryan’s arm.
“Look!” I hissed. “That’s the guy again!”
Ryan rolled his eyes as Brett turned to look.
“Who?” Brett asked in confusion.
“Nothing,” Ryan said irritably. “Katya’s just being weird.”
I widened my eyes at him and jerked my head toward the stranger.
“Just look,” I pleaded. “I promise it’s the same guy.”
Ryan sighed, but he turned to look. I knew the second that he saw our stalker, because his entire body stiffened.
“What’s wrong?” Brett asked as he looked between the two of us.
“Nothing,” Ryan and I said together.
Our train barreled into the station at that exact