Page 14 of You Belong With Me

“What?” Lux prompts. “Say it, Wyn. Don’t worry, I’m not going to judge you.”

I lift a brow at her. “How do you know that’s why I’m not telling you?”

She flashes me a look. “Because I know you. Fear of judgment is your number one thing. But I love you regardless, so…spill it.”

I purse my lips, then blow out a defeated breath. “I think Gabriel is lying.”

Lux twists her head, like she wasn’t expecting that, and is thrown off by it. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know, it’s just…a gut feeling,” I say quickly. “Is that weird? Am I being stupid?”

“No, come on, Wyn. You’re not being stupid.” She reaches out and takes my hand, threading her fingers through mine. “You’ve been through a lot in the last few weeks. Of course, you’re skeptical. Anyone in your place would be. But there’s no real evidence of that, is there?”

Yeah, it’s a fair point. Maybe I’mlookingfor evidence that Gabriel is lying. But if he is—and that’s a bigif—then the police will tease that out, right? I mean, they interviewed him this morning, and they wouldn’t do that if they weren’t looking into his claims.

“Yeah, you’re right,” I say, relieved by her level-headedness. At least one of us is thinking straight. “It’s probably just me waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

“Pfft,I know what you mean.” She shrugs and the motion causes the strap of her dress to fall off one shoulder. “But sometimes there is no other shoe, Wyn. Sometimes it’s just…good, you know? No catch.”

My gaze flicks over her face. Lux is an inspiration—and not because her boyfriend is hot, and rich as fuck (which helps, though, obviously), but because she had to travel through the nine rings of hell to get where she is today. That joy on her face was earned in every sense of the word.

Is that my journey, too, though? Am I worthy of the kind of happiness Lux has? No, definitely not.

My phone pings and the screen lights up. It’s a text from Gabriel.

I’m at my mom’s. Where are you?

I take one last sip of my mint tea and set it back down, standing up. “I guess I should get going.”

Lux stands up, too. “I think they’re planning a thing at Rush House for Gabriel tomorrow night. They’re making it a non-official Burning Crown thing, so Roman and I can go. Will you be there?”

“It’s the first I’ve heard of it, but yeah. Why not?” I’m just kind of going through the motions, at this point.

Lux walks me to the front door and pulls me into another hug. When she pulls back, she has a stern look in her eyes. “If you need me, call me.”

“Okay, I will.”

“Promise,” she demands.

I laugh. “I promise.”

“Okay, if I don't see you before, I’ll see you at Rush House tomorrow.”

As I head back down to my car, I text Gabriel back and tell him I’ll meet him at his mom’s place. I feel better after meeting with Lux. She always gives me the clarity I need. Plus, if I’m being honest, just talking shit out really helps.

Pulling up to Gabriel’s mom’s house, I park in the driveway. There are several other cars here—and I notice Lucas’ among them.

I’m about to knock on the front door when I notice it’s already cracked open. I push it open wider and immediately hear voices echoing through the empty house. Laughter drifts up from somewhere in the back and I follow the sound.

Everyone is standing around in the kitchen. Gabriel is leaning against the sink, relaying a story, and everyone is just enraptured. My gaze drifts over the unfamiliar faces—family maybe—until I find theoneface I’m always looking for.

Lucas.

His eyes don’t meet mine, though, and that hurts. As much as I’ve fought against his attention, I’ve also gotten used to it. If I’m being honest, I’ve become addicted to it. And not having it now—it feels like I’ve been rejected.

“Gwendolyn!” Ms. Martelle calls out, cutting through the crowd to pull me into a hug. “You’re here, thank God. Gabriel was just talking about you.” She ushers me over to her son’s side as everyone stares. I laugh awkwardly to cover my discomfort.

I’ve always hated being the center of attention.

---