Page 10 of Marked

“Oh. Well.” I take a sip of my drink. “I guess.”

“You guess?”

“Hey, Harley.” Josephine and Sara, two girls I went to high school with, walk up to us.

“I thought it was you,” Josephine says. She’s wearing a pair of sunglasses with mirrored lenses, so all I see is myself staring up at her. Her lips, painted with thick red lipstick, curl upward.

“Hi.” I grip my cup tighter.

“You’re on summer break then?” Sara asks, sliding her gaze toward Zack.

“Yes.”

Zack’s foot touches mine beneath the table. Such a small gesture, but it helps settle my nerves.

“How’s your mom?” Josephine asks with a sneer in her voice. She folds her arms over her chest.

“She’s doing fine.” I pick up my cup, take a sip like her presence isn’t bothering me. Like I don’t know what she’s thinking. How she’s judging me.

It’s the same since it happened.

The same look. The same questioning attitude.

“Really? It’s a hard time of year, isn’t it?” Josephine prods.

“Yes. It is.” The cardboard cup bends beneath my fingers, and I let go before I pop the cover off and make a mess.

Sara’s eyes go to my hand then back to Zack. “Hi. I’m Sara.” She extends her hand over the table toward him. “I haven’t seen you around before.”

Zack looks at her hand as though it drips with poison, and moves his hand to cover mine, squeezing a little. And just like with his foot, it settles my nerves. My stomach doesn’t twist so hard beneath Josephine’s glare.

Sara frowns and drops her hand.

“I’m new to town.” Zack leans back, moving his arm to drape over my shoulders.

“And you’re sitting with Harley?” Josephine pulls her sunglasses down her nose just enough to expose her brown eyes. They pierce me with her disdain, but Zack runs the tip of his thumb over my neck and I’m able to keep from hiding.

“I am.” Zack looks to Sara. “Did you want something? We were in the middle of a conversation.” His tone lowers, like he’s chastising toddlers.

Josephine shoves her glasses back up her nose.

“I know this time of year is really hard on your mom. I hope you’re doing the right thing and helping her through it.” She nudges Sara.

“Enjoy your summer.” Sara gives me a look filled with pity. I’m not sure how she deals with Josephine. I would have thought she’d be finished with putting up with the mean girl bullshit after we graduated, but maybe Josephine has worn her down too much for her to fight back.

“I will. Thanks. You too.”

“See ya,shadow.” Josephine turns hard on her high heeled sandals and pulls Sara along with her down the street.

Josephine’s mother owns the boutique on the corner. They’ve been working there since high school. Not much changes in this town.

“Who was that?” Zack asks.

“Just some girls from school.” I sigh, dropping my gaze to my coffee.

He moves his hand from around me to cup my chin, pulling my focus to him.

“Never lie to me, Harley.” His words are slow, deliberate. “No matter what, never lie to me.”

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