me with a sideways look, his mouth a flat line. He doesn’t have to say the words. Tory won’t hurt Hayden.
“What do I do with this? What . . .” My words run out.
Hayden leaves his cue and rounds the table, stepping directly in front of me and lifting my chin so he can look in my eyes.
“You tell him you love him, too.”
A sloppy laugh falls from my lips, part nerves and part sob. I nod to him and he pulls me into a hug. Hayden and I were always better friends. Tory was right the first time he said it—he and I, we would always be more.
23
Tory
My dad left yesterday for a business trip to Canada. Playing bachelor was fun for exactly twelve hours. I drank one of his beers but the novelty wore off before I went in for another. I walked around in my boxers for a while, but ultimately, I just ended up cleaning the apartment. Being alone is turning me into Hayden.
A buzz from my phone wakes me from a near nap, my third of the day, so I tap the screen awake to read the text.
HAYDEN: June says if you don’t come to her New Year’s party she is never talking to you again.
I blink twice at the message and decide to call his bluff.
ME: That’s a lie. She’d never cut me out.
When it takes him a few minutes to respond, I sit up. I don’t really believe she would, but I don’t like the idea of disappointing her. I’m sure she understands that I don’t want to see Abby. I know Hayden must. Why does it feel like he’s pushing so hard?
My phone buzzes with a photo attachment from him, and I open it to see a picture of June flipping me off. I shake with a short laugh.
ME: Fine. I’m coming.
I toss my phone into the center of the bed and pace the empty guest room. Hayden has been here once, and only to see it. It’s not very homey, but that’s not really in my dad’s skill set. It seems a waste for him to buy us a bunch of shit here anyhow, since who knows where we’ll be next fall. I should find out about my offers soon. Hayden’s picking between Colorado and Nevada. I could go with him. Both coaches expressed interest in me, too, but I think it might be good to have our own college experiences. I’m more interested in staying in the Midwest. Who knows, maybe we’ll play each other in the Big Dance.
It’s after ten, so I better hit the road before drunks start to spill out onto the backroads I take on my way into Allensville. Tossing a few staples into my duffle, I rush through a shower and land on my gray sweater that buttons at the neck and a pair of dark blue jeans. I look dressed up enough to pass for New Year’s formal, I think. Besides, I know there’s no way June will get Lucas in anything fancier than this.
It takes me more than an hour to get into town, the highway dotted with patrol cars waiting to pull people over. I keep to the speed limit exactly. When I turn onto June’s street, almost every space along the road is blocked. I cruise by her and Lucas’s driveways, and they’re full of cars as well.
“Damn, this is a real party,” I say to myself.
It takes me two passes to find an open space that I can wedge my car into. It’s not the best parking job, but it will do. I plan on leaving early anyhow. I just need to make my friends happy and show some face time. I reach into my bag and grab my cologne, giving my neck a quick spray before getting out of the car. I like to let the scent linger in there; it masks whatever that strange smell is that’s been there since I bought the thing.
The music is thumping loud enough to be heard four houses down. I hope the Mabees invited all the neighbors, otherwise they’re going to get a noise complaint. People can be real assholes about partying on New Year’s. I mean, the entire premise of the holiday is to stay up until midnight.
I’m halfway up the driveway when my palms start to sweat. I know what it is: it’s seeing Abby’s car. I’ve been avoiding her. She messaged me twice after bowling and I put her