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I glanced away, bitingto conjure a s I could do was thank her for the advice like I normally would, then move on It was si downsteamrolled Maybe self-restraint was overrated

“You know, Olivia, for soly when you open your mouth” I smiled one of her tradeenuous—then ripped her hand off my arm

Olivia’s eyes widened, and her face turned red Clearly, she wasn’t used to people telling her off

But it felt oh-so-good I ry Or embarrassed her Or both

But I wasn’t done yet I had years of pent-up aggression, waiting for ive it a voice

I stepped forward and poked her in the chest “You knohat I think? I think Carson turned you down” I had no idea if that was the case He probably hadn’t, and I was an idiot for saying it, but so deep down told et what they wanted, but I had seen the way Carson looked at her at The Bean and then at his party Like it was a chore just being around her

“That’s ridiculous” She flipped her bleached-out hair over her shoulder, but she wouldn’t meet my eye

“Is it? Because you all but told him you wanted him to ask you to the Snowflake Ball, but he didn’t, did he?”

Her mouth opened and closed like a beached Flounder in theway

“That’s what I thought,” I said and figured if I wanted to ood a time as any

I turned my back to her and started up the dunes toward the hen she called out behind me, “You can’t just talk to me like that!”

When I said nothing, she continued, “I didn’t want to go to the stupid dance with hi, the word “loser” sprinkled in their conversation, but I didn’t care becausethe wooden planks in a steady cadence, shoulders back, head lifted high I told ood

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The adrenaline from my encounter with Olivia was short-lived

I stood in the chilly air, waiting outside the Brooks’ hoht