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“I didn’t convince Freya of anything,” Sasha interrupted “Whatever we did, we did together”

“Thanks for clarifying that” A sense of satisfaction swelled inside Jada “So you both worked out a plan to solve your probleet e license to the press so they’d out you to the world That hat you decided to do, right?”

Sasha was up against it, and everyone but Trey knew it

Jada could al in Sasha’s head She picked crumbs off her shirt as a ploy to buy time

“That was the plan, right?” Jada prompted

Sasha shrugged “I don’t re like that We were drunk You say and do all sorts of stupid crap when you’re drunk”

“And yet,” Jada continued, “you went on the road trip anyway You didn’t ht at a charht outside the city What small toas that, Sasha?”

She shrugged again “No idea You knoe lesbians are about bed and breakfasts Can’t resist ’em”

“Freya reers Glen Ring a bell?”

She didn’t look up, si the hem of her shorts No answer

“It’s been all over the news lately,” Jada continued “Springers Glen is my hometown Rehts there, that every time you headed out in your car, you passed another cute bed and breakfast and had to try that one out Youabout the allure of B&Bs”

Sasha’s posture went froht Can’t be sure The days run together when you’re having a good time, you know?”

“I do,” Jada said “Eventually, good ti drive to Iowa, and at the rate you were traveling, it’d take you a year to get there Freya said you created a second plan to out yourself, one where you didn’t actually have to get e would work as well as a real one You went so far as to use the B&B’s coe license off the internet You even filled it out”

“We were drunk,” was all Sasha would say, her go-to excuse “You re, don’t you Jada? The first night Iharlot Ha!” Her laugh was hollow and forced

Trey leaned forward, concerned Jada wondered how er it would take before he realized the truth

Jada ignored Sasha’s jab “Freya talked a lot about how drunk you both were She also said that when she finally sobered up in the wee hours of the , last Wednesday, she realized your scheal, and she didn’t want any part of it So she wrote you a Dear Jane letter, packed up and skipped townin your car”

“It never works out,” Sasha said “None of h to wake me up and tell me to my face”

There it was Some honest emotion, finally “For what it’s worth,” Jada said, “Freya told Marina that she feels badly about how she handled it She wants to apologize but you won’t return her calls or texts”

“Screw her,” Sasha said “I don’t need it I don’t need anybody”

“Even me?” Trey asked

Sasha didn’t answer, her beautiful face frozen in defiance She stared at the door Jada wondered if she was conte escape Probably not Everyone in the roo now

“I’m sorry she hurt you,” Ian said “But it doesn’t excuse what you did”

Her response was clipped “I know”

“What did you do, Sasha?” Trey asked “This is sounding liketalk to me Tell me what you’ve done”

Sasha’s htened and she crossed her arms over her chest

“You ht as well tell him,” Ian said “Better it come from you than us”

“Confession is good for the soul,” Jada said “That’s what randmother used to say”

Sasha whirled on Jada, her blonde curls swinging wide “What do you know about it? When have you ever had to live a life that was less than normal, less than perfect? You and your best-friend sister, your perfect parents and storybook hoe? Has anyone ever disapproved of you just for being who you were? I think no Don’t talk toyou’ve ever had to confess was skipping Sunday School so you could go to a Save the Puppies rally instead”