Page 16 of All Your Pucking Secrets

Nothing.

“Done.” Elle weaves past me and Jin and takes a few steps toward the door, but then her gaze returns to catch on me. “If you decide you want someone to show you around, send me a message.”

I nod. “Thanks, but I won’t.”

She stalks away, clearly unhappy with the response.

“Are you in the child psychology class now?” Jin asks Echo.

“No.” She shakes her head. “I’m taking that next semester.”

He looks disappointed. “I guess I’ll see you later then.” He tips his head toward me. “Nice meeting you.”

He leaves, and Echo follows close behind. I fall into step beside her.

“So, if you’re not going to be a doctor, are you going into psychology?” I ask, trying to make sense of the classes she’s taking.

She ignores me.

“Echo. Please.” My voice drips with desperation, and I don’t even care. “I know I fucked up. I’m trying to do better. Give me something.”

She stops walking, and I lurch to a halt, too. She turns and wraps her arms around her waist. The gesture is defensive, and a thread of loathing tugs in my gut. I hate that she feels the need to be on guard with me. Even if it’s completely understandable.

Echo’s green-and-gold-flecked eyes burn as she stares me down. “If you really want to do better, then listen to me when I ask you to leave me alone.”

“I—”

She scoffs. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

She brushes past me. As she goes, I slip the small box into her backpack for her to find later.

A shoulder slap takes me by surprise, and I whirl around, finding one of the guys from the hockey team standing behind me.

“Did you strike out?” he asks, his mouth turned down sympathetically.

“No.” I refuse to admit defeat. “The game is only just beginning.”

5

ECHO

Getting drunk is supposed to make you feel better, right?

Not that my therapist agrees, but most of my friends do. Yet, somehow, bathing my mind in beer is only making me more irritable and confused.

I lunge for the ping-pong ball, catching it on a bounce, and stand, swaying as I aim at a cup on the other side of the table. Loud dance music throbs around me, making it difficult to concentrate. I throw…and miss.

Hayden, one of the frat guys on the other team, grabs the ball and returns fire. Unfortunately, it lands in a cup on my side of the table. I fish the ball out and down the beer, wincing at the bitter taste. I pass the ball to Anita, my partner, for her turn.

“What do you think it means?” I ask Anita as she tosses the ping-pong ball neatly into one of Hayden’s cups.

I’ve just finished explaining to her about the jewelry box I found in my bag earlier in the week. Inside, nestled on a bed of velvet, was a beautiful silver pendant shaped like a shooting star. I’d almost had a panic attack when I opened it. Then I nearly cried.

Damn Tyler for getting under my skin like this. I don’t want to remember the time when we meant something to each other. It’s best left in the past.

While Hayden drinks, Anita turns to me, flicking her auburn hair away from her face. “If one of my exes gave me an expensive necklace, I’d assume he wanted me back.”

My lip curls. “That’s not it.”

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