Page 23 of In Too Deep

My heart jumps, my lower abdomen tightening as he looks at me with intention. “What?” I croak. “You’re lying. There’s no way it says that.”

He extends the fortune to me, and I yank it from his fingers, my heart fluttering as I read, A passionate new romance will appear in your life when you least expect it.

“It’s my interpretation,” he clarifies, popping a piece of cookie in his mouth. “I’m not interested in a new romance unless it’s with you.”

My gaze falls to my lap as I play with the wrapper in my hands. “Lawrence, I—”

“No, I know…you need time.” He reaches over, placing his hand over mine to still them, and I meet his eyes. “I promise I’m going to do my best to respect that, but I also want to be clear about how I’m feeling. I don’t want to leave any room for doubt.”

Doubting him was never the problem. I always believed his feelings for me were true. And that’s the issue. I’m not sure he’s worthy of my trust. I don’t know if I can put my faith in someone who has a history of breaking my heart and the ability to do it again.

14

Lawrence

20 Years Ago

My mind races as I walk with my best friend down the once familiar street toward the house that had always felt like home. I don’t know how it’s possible for everything to look so different, yet the same. Until my parents uprooted my life and moved us to Detroit, this was my neighborhood. I was furious when they dragged me away from my friends, especially Robbie. We grew up together. He’s like a brother to me. There was a time when I would’ve done anything to be back in this small southern town with him. But I don’t feel like I belong here anymore. I know it’s not my parents’ fault. My dad works for an automobile factory and goes where they tell him, when they tell him. Still, it feels like starting over.

“So, what are we doing today?”

Robbie cuts his eyes over to me before throwing his basketball up in the air again, blowing out a breath as it lands back in his waiting hands. I don’t know what his deal is. He’s being quiet and edgy.

“It’s hot as hell out here. We should go for a swim with Caroline and Cat.”

I inwardly groan at the mention of Cat. Robbie is obsessed with Caroline’s best friend. He spent most of our phone conversations talking about her. It’s not like I’ve never had a crush on a girl, I’ve even had a couple girlfriends, but they never really mattered to me. I never cared for them the way Robbie does Cat. She’s inside his head, and if you ask me, she’s playing games. The poor guy keeps asking her out, and she keeps turning him down. Although she doesn’t mind keeping him on the hook.

“Wait, you mean I get the pleasure of meeting the infamous Cat?”

Coming to a stop, Robbie tucks his ball under his arm, and I meet his hard stare. The last time I saw him, we were the same height, but he’s a good foot taller than me now. Between that and his natural wide frame, I feel tiny next to him. I don’t like it.

“Yes, Cat is at the house. Promise me right now you won’t say anything crazy to her and you’ll be nice.”

I snort. “Are you saying you don’t trust me around your precious Cat?”

“I know what you think. You don’t like her, but you don’t know her. If you give her a chance, you’ll see.”

“I’ll see what? Why you’re so stuck on this girl? I doubt that. I mean, I know I haven’t lived here for a while, but surely there are other girls worth your time.”

His jaw clenches as he sighs. “You don’t get it. She’s different. Special.”

“No, you just want what you can’t have, and she knows that.”

His nostrils flare as he walks away, pounding his ball into the pavement as he goes. I follow behind him, quickening my steps to catch up with him.

“You’re wrong about her. About all of it,” he says without looking at me.

“Fine. Okay. I’ll be on my best behavior. I promise.”

Catelyn

Caroline is still standing in front of the full-length mirror when I walk back into her room. She eyes me in the reflection, her lips twisting when she notices the string cheese and can of RC Cola I’ve brought with me. It’s the same look of disapproval she gives me anytime she catches me snacking. I think maybe there’s a little bit of jealousy mixed in there as well. She’s been dieting for months. By that, I mean the girl never eats anymore. She is literally starting to fade away.

Our general chubbiness used to be something we had in common, one of the things that bonded us in friendship. She carried all her weight in the middle, while mine seemed to gravitate to my thighs and butt. Now, she’s little more than skin and bone, wearing a skimpy bikini I would never be caught dead in. I don’t know why I bother with a one-piece, though. My stomach is flat, and it’s not like it does anything to hide the lower part of my body.

Daring her to call me out, I narrow my eyes as I plop down on her bed and take a bite. “What?”

She shakes her head and smacks her lips before going back to admiring herself. We’re only a couple weeks into summer, and her skin is already a dark gold, the small pale heart on her hip revealing how much the sun has changed her.

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