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My legs stiffened, and I didn’t sit down Crossing my arms, I walked to the rain-splatteredand, out of habit, looked up to Tate’s darkened bedroo you, too I’m not even sure if I want Lia for him, either That’s why I took you up on the offer to coht Tate said she was busy, and I didn’t want to stay ho at her "You could’ve used any guy to make Liam jealous, KC Why ht you were hooking up with me"

I could almost see her ht her knees up to her chest, hugging the" She shook her head, like the word "overbearing" was too simplistic "She picks out my clothes, checks my phone, picks ht, and she choked back a dry sob

My mouth went dry, and I stilled

Jesus

What wasn’t she saying?

Using her thuht tears as they fell "Anyway, after Lia weak and pushed around I thought Jared Trent would get under Liam’s skin like no other"

The corners of her lips turned up slightly, and I understood what she was saying

We both wanted control

"But you kneould hurt Tate," I restated, still searching for a reason why she would hurt her so-called best friend

"Yeah," she sighed "Not part of the plan, but I guess I figured it would turn around this ga, so to speak"

I pinchedyour friend?" I asked

But she shocked h "You’re not that powerful, Jared" She looked down, and then continued softly, "Tate and I will be fine She can’t know about this, though She knoho she is She’s not silly or insecure I don’t want her judging ame with Liam I don’t want anyone to know"

She put her feet back on the carpet and straightened up,my eyes "Jared, I have no idea what your probleht when she got back, things would be different You tould be over this mess"

"We are over it," I asserted as I took a seat next to her

KC narrowed her eyes to slits and tipped her chin up "You love her," she said, not asked, and my face flushed

"No," I said firmly

"Good" She slapped her hands onto her lap, and her tone suddenly lightened up, surprising ht It’s likely he’ll bring Tate Can you keep your claws in?"

My arms rested on the back of the couch, otherwise she would’ve seento not care, Madoc, KC, and everyone else for thaton with her life

"I don’t care who does what, KC," I stated without any emotion

She looked at me for a few seconds, while I stared ahead

"Doher hands down her faded jeans "Play along with this through the race for ainst Madoc, and I just--"

"Yeah," I cut her off, knowing exactly what she needed "You got it"

If she wanted to make Liam jealous, then I could help It wasn’t a very honorable cause, but it was fun

"Movie?" I suggested, trying to change the subject

"Sure Do you like dance ht then and there

Thick rain poured down outside, and the air felt dense with energy I gave KC a sweatshirt to cover her head when she left around ed upstairs to my room

For the first time in years, I wanted in that tree

Tate and I used to cli storms--or anytih

Sliding up the , I poked my head out into the wind and the rain and iers clenched the sill

The first thing that cas dangling, long and s

And then I reel

You’re a miserable piece of shit, Jared Her words today had cuta thunderstorenius" She popped her head up and twisted around to face me

The look in her eyes--that I could see, anyasn’t angry the way it usually ith uarded and a little sad

"I like to think so, yes," she said, facing away froain

Her deing, either Did she feel bad about what she said toanger

Don’t feel sorry for me

I wanted her to sit there and ohat she did Don’t apologize and don’t shy away Getany bells?" I continued to antagonize her I knew there was so stor we hadn’t done a hundred times ere kids

"It never one fro street

"What? You sitting in a tree during a stor hurt," she shot back and shut htened, and I wanted to shake her and yell, "Yeah, I don’t fking care if anything bad ever happens to you!"

But I couldn’t

I did care--goddammit--and I wanted to punch a wall because of it Why the hell did I care about anything she did? Who she dated? Who she screwed?

But then, I guess I’d be miserable, too, if h ood I’d ever thought about her Every memory