Page 57 (1/2)

My heart stops “And then?”

“And then I don’t know I guess I forgot about it”

I let out a sigh “I’ot that letter You were never supposed to see that It wasn’t meant for you to ever read It was just for me”

“Maybe it was fate Maybe this was all supposed to happen just like this, becausebecause it was always gonna be you andthat comes to mind “No, it wasn’t” And I realize it’s true

This is the moment I realize I don’t love him, that I haven’t for a while That : I could kiss hiain; I could make him mine But I don’t want hie to have spent so , for someone, and then one day, suddenly, to just stop

I tuck ot You have to proot been in touch with you recently?” I ask hiht She said she wants to hang out while she’s hoo to DC for the day Go to the Set dinner in Chinatown”

“Great Then that’s what you’ll do” I pat him on the knee and then quickly take my hand back “Josh, we just have to act like before Like always If we do that, everything will be fine” I repeat it to o back to our proper places now Josh and Margot Me Peter

56

AFTER SCHOOL LETS OUT THE next day, I go look for Peter in the weight roo at the bench press I think it’s better to talk here and not in his car I’ to feel like hoirlfriend Not just sootten to really like Darrell and Gabe and the other lax guys They aren’t as douchey as people say They’re good people

The weight roo weights When he sees me, he smiles “Are you here to spot me?” He sits up and wipes sweat off his face with the collar of his T-shirt

My heart squeezes painfully “I’m here to break up To fake break up, I mean”

Peter does a double take “Wait What?”

“There’s no need to keep it going You got what you wanted, right? You saved face, and so did I I talked to Josh, and everything’s back to norain And my sister will be home soon Souess”

My heart is breaking even as I smile “So okay, then” With a flourish I whip our contract out of“Null and void Both parties have hereby fulfilled their obligations to each other in perpetuity” I’ off laords

“You carry that around with you?”

“Of course! Kitty’s such a snoop She’d find it in two seconds”

I hold up the piece of paper, poised to rip it in half, but Peter grabs it from me “Wait! What about the ski trip?”

“What about it?”

“You’re still coht of that The only reason I was going to go was for Peter I can’t go now I can’t be a witness to Peter and Genevieve’s reunion, I just can’t I want theain, and it will be like this whole thing was just soo”