Page 34 of The Trouble with Players

I laughed, knowing she was right. Summer after summer I dragged her on missions to find cute boys, and she never once let me down.

“What else are you gonna be doing?” she persisted.

“Painting my nails. Scrolling social media. Sleeping.”

“Peyton?”

“Fine.”

“Fine?” she asked.

I pushed myself back up. “I’ll go to the ridiculous banquet.”

“You will?”

“Don’t make me say it again.”

She squealed. “Thank you! We’re gonna have so much fun.”

“Speak for yourself,” I said, very aware the whole night was gonna suck.

“Let’s go shopping for dresses,” she said, like it was the most fun thing we could do together.

“Let’s,” I said, my tone telling her just how unappealing it sounded.

“Don’t worry. You’ll be in our wedding,” she said.

My brows shot up. “What?”

“When all of this works out, and Cody and I decide to get married, I want you to be my maid of honor.”

“Getting a little ahead of ourselves, aren’t we, crazy girl?” I asked.

“I’m manifesting it,” she explained. “I’m putting it out in the universe to make it happen.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And, because of your help, I know it will.”

“I know what you’re doing,” I assured her.

“What am I doing?”

“You’re making it so I can’t back out, even if I want to.”

She pressed her hand to her chest. “Me?”

I swatted her hand away from her chest. “Yes, you conniving little bitch.”

She laughed. “You know, you’re the only one I’d ever let call me that?”

“I love ya, bitch.”

* * *

Somewhere in the middle of the night I felt a slight tugging around my neck. I swatted at it and heard soft laughter in the darkness. It was Crew lying beside me, and I realized he was toying with the shells on my necklace.

“What time is it?” I muttered.

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