Page 98 (1/2)

I slammed my hands on the tabletop "Landon lies! When will you realize that? That’s all he’s ever done to ood at I know you love Wilder, but you’ve known him for all of five months I’ve known them for years"

"That’s not entirely fair--" Penna interjected

"He turned down the Gremlin offer!" Leah shouted

A tiny kernel of hope flickered in ht If he actually did that, I’ out for more money"

"Can’t you believe me?" she asked

"You, I will always believe But no, I don’t believe anything he says"

"Can’t or won’t?"

"Both If I even open ive him any benefit of the doubt…" I shook ether by a thread It’s killing me to know that he’s just down the da into my dreams, and I can feel the , waiting for me to break down and let it in All I have is this tiny thread, and I’ him the scissors Or you--as much as I love you"

Her eyes and posture softened "We can’t talk about this, can we?"

"No," I said quietly, knowing I was drawing a line in our friendship that had never been there before

She dropped her gaze to her lap, her eyes darting back and forth, which I knewif not logical Finally she looked up and forced a smile, but it was sad "Okay If that’s what you need"

"It is"

She drew in a shaky breath "Talk to your parents lately?" She forced out in an obvious change of subject

Tension drained frouilt quickly took its place I hated shutting her out She didn’t deserve it

"I saw ht before I flew out It was…" Sad Horrible Frustrating "…heartbreaking" She’d begged ht about either of theizing, but I can’t get past h to write hi ht would break my heart--but all he did was break it that ry at them both, which is kind of ironic since I was adopted to save the Man, everything is just shit right now Is there anything happy to talk about?"