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I laughed

Megan drew in a deep breath “I like thinking about boys, Phillip in particular, and I’m actually smarter than most people, especially those people who’d callwant and still have a life outside of doing so, so screw that Don’t get down on yourself because, for right now, you’re focused on what is important to you at this uy To else”

Staring at her, sort of shocked, I started to san I kind of want to have you repeat that whole rant and record it”

She rolled her eyes “Don’t, because it won’t be as good the second time around”

Abbi rolled her chair over to us “I’ht”

I flopped backward on the bed, ale of Oreos I stared up at the ceiling as the tightness in ered like a shadow, as did a whole truckload of confusion over Sebastian, but it had lessened Because of theirlfriends “Guys,” I said, “I actually feel a little better That means I may not eat all seven leftover ”

Abbi coughed out a laugh “That’s good to hear”

“Can I have amy arm with her hand “I feel like I could use soar I just consumed”

Abbi sighed

“Okay I’ “But we’re going to be best friends forever, aren’t we? Because I have a feeling this won’t be my only episode of pure, unedited stupidity”

Megan giggled “That was cheesy, but yes, yes, we are”

“Don’t forget Dary,” Abbi said, knocking her foot against mine “The four of us will always be the four of us No matter what”

CHAPTER SEVEN

After the girls left, I picked upover the railing, I looked over at Sebastian’s house I could see hisin the dirt She earing one of those floppy straw hats, and only a feisps of brown hair were visible

Her entire body shook as she jabbed the spade into the landscaping surrounding their patio Several bright blue and red peonies were still in their cartons beside her My gaze flipped to their brick patio, and their fire pit sat in the middle It hadn’t fallen apart like ours had

Sebastian’s mom was quiet Out of all the years I’d known him, and all the times I’d been in and out of their house, well over a thousand times, I’m sure, I’d probably held just a handful of conversations with his mom

She was always kind, always said hello, asked hoas and how e, but that was it

Sebastian’s dad did all the talking

Exhaling heavily, I looked down at an had suspected what I felt for Sebastian was uessed it The fact that they’d kept it to thee They knew me too well

I backed away fro e of the seat With my phone clutched in my hands, I considered my options

I could ignore it and pretend it never happened That had been my MO for, like, forever I would swear to s tomorrow But I kne I operated Tomorroas always full of possibility and potential for s off until another day

I couldn’t do that

Chewing on my lip, I opened up my texts and found the last one from Sebastian, the one from the past Friday My sto okay between us?

Several moments passed before I worked up the nerve to hit Send, and when I did, I almost ih, so I stared atI knew football practice was over Souys afterward Other tiht home

When he didn’t immediately respond, I rested my forehead on my knees

I was still a little surprised by the fact I had texted hi, let Sebastian eventually come to me or let it work itself out But I just couldn’t do that

I considered going next door to see if he was there, but I’d just texted hiot up and walked out onto the balcony and started down the steps I stopped halfway down, unsure of what I was doing

I looked to Sebastian’s yard again His ht pink ones were left in their cartons I pivoted, went back up the stairs, went inside, then went downstairs to heat up some meatballs I ate four of the the news