Page 23 of When Ellie Falls in Love

Unless she’s doing it on purpose.

What if Ellie was mad that Sadie had sent her that picture? For all Sadie knew, Ellie could think shemeantto send it to her. Sadie’s stomach churned at the thought. Maybe she should have told Ellie it was an accident. That might have cleared things up and allowed them to laugh about it later.

But instead, Sadie had said nothing. And neither had Ellie.

At least Ellie hadn’t screenshot the picture like Trevor did. He had to know she could see that, but he didn’t care. Sadie knew better than to send it in the first place, and she felt dumb every time she thought about it. How and why had she let some random guy she didn’t care about dictate what she did?

“Hey,” a familiar voice startled her from behind as she refilled her tiny plastic cup of water. Sadie nearly jumped out of her skin as she turned to face Abigail Massey.

Not only was Abigail Massey Sadie’s biggest rival on the softball team, she was also Trevor’s ex-girlfriend. The two were never friends, and that was clearly not destined to change. Sadie knew Abigail wasn’t there to tell her congrats for going to prom with Trevor. No; the devious look in her green eyes told Sadie it was something else entirely.

“So, I heard you’ve been sending my Trevor somenaughtypictures.”

“Excuse me?” Sadie blurted out, dropping her water cup on the floor. “How do you—”

“Oh, I knoweverything.”

Holding up her phone, Abigail showed her the picture. The picture Sadie had taken. The picture Sadie had taken and sent to Trevor. And Ellie. The picture Sadie had taken and sent to Trevor and he screenshot. Her blood ran cold as she tried to figure out why—why—Trevor would have sent that to Abigail.

“You see,” Abigail took a step toward her, pushing Sadie back to risk being face to face with her, “he knows you’re just dating him to make me jealous.”

“I’m—I’m notdatinghim.”

“Then why are you sending him these pictures?” Abigail held the phone closer to Sadie’s face as she cringed, looking away. “Yeah, I wouldn’t want to have to look at these pictures either.”

Sadie didn’t know how it was possible, but an even more devious look washed over Abigail’s face. Nothing good could follow that look.

“He’s mine,” she snarled. “And so is the pitcher position on the softball team, you understand?”

What?

Sadie’s head began to spin as a whirlwind of thoughts crashed into her.

Had it all been a plan for Abigail to threaten Sadie? Did Trevor only ask her to prom because Abigail asked him to? Was it because Charlie had given Sadie the pitcher spot the over Abigail? Would Abigail really stoop so low to threaten her at prom?

The pit in Sadie’s stomach told her she wouldn’t like the answers to any of the questions.

“You know, it would be a shame if this picture accidentally gotleaked. I’m sure your little stepmother would have no choice but to kick you off the team then, hmm?”

“Abigail, please. Don’t do this.”

“Then give me back Trevor and the pitcher position.”

“You can have Trevor. I don’t want him.”

Abigail looked slightly vindicated. “I didn’t think he was your type anyway.”

“What does that mean?”

“And what about the pitcher position?” Abigail asked, ignoring Sadie’s question.

“I earned that spot.”

“Bullshit. You glided in here halfway through sophomore year and took the position thatIhave worked toward for years. If yourstepmomwasn’t the coach, we both know you wouldn’t be the starting pitcher.”

“I guess that’s why I have a softball scholarship and you don’t.” Sadie matched Abigail’s angry energy the best she could, despite her shaking hands and voice. “I earned that spot fairly.”

“Well, then I guess there’s only one thing to do, huh?”

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