Page 88 of The Facade

“Um…” I cleared my throat that was suddenly thick with guilt “No one important?”

“You sure you weren’t texting Ben?” she asked, wiggling her eyebrows playfully.

“What? No.”

“No? But I thought…?”

“I can’t believe I forgot to tell you.” I shook my head, realizing that with everything that had happened with Mack this week, I’d completely forgotten to warn Elyse about Ben.

“Tell me what?” Elyse furrowed her brow.

“That he’s a total fraud.”

“A fraud?”

“Yes,” I said. Then I told her everything. I told her about what I’d overheard during the Halloween dance. About his stupid plan to kiss all the girls on his stupid list. About how he’d done it all just because of a dare. And then how he’d tricked me so badly that I’d kissed him.

Elyse put a hand to her chest when I finished my story. “I had no idea he was like that. He’s always been so nice to me.”

“Yeah. That’s part of his method, I guess,” I said. “I can’t believe I forgot to tell you about it sooner because from what I overheard, it sounds like he was planning to go after you and Addison next.”

“What?” Her light-brown eyes widened. “Why me?

“I don’t know,” I said. “But I’d probably stay away from him if I were you.”

“Yikes.” She leaned back in her chair. “Thanks for the warning.”

“No problem.”

When I started packing my books into my backpack, my phone buzzed again. I glanced at it, itching to pick it up since it was probably Mack telling me where to meet him. But when Elyse eyed my phone suspiciously, I decided to ignore it. I could totally wait until I had all my things in my backpack before I looked at my phone, right?

I was just slipping my tablet into my backpack when my phone buzzed again.

“You gonna check that?” Elyse asked with a half-smile on her lips, almost daring me to resist.

“It’s probably just my mom asking me if I’ll be home for dinner,” I said with a shrug, hoping to come off as uninterested even though I was slightly dying inside.

“Here.” She set her own phone on the tabletop. “Your hands are busy, I can check it for you.”

“No, don’t!” I nearly shouted when she reached for my phone.

Her eyes lifted to mine, really intrigued now. “I was just joking,” she said. “But with a reaction like that, I have to know what’s going on.”

“It’s nothing,” I lied, feeling my cheeks flush.

“Come on, Cambrielle,” she said. “Do you really think I’m that dumb? You’re obviously on edge about who is texting you.”

“I know.” I sighed and slumped back into my chair.

“So, have you been texting a guy?” She smirked.

And since I knew it was pointless to lie when the truth was obvious, I said, “Yes.”

“Who is it?” She leaned closer. “Someone I know?”

“I can’t tell you who it is,” I said. “No one can know.”

“How come?” She narrowed her eyes. “Is it someone you shouldn’t like? Is it Ben? Were you just making up that stuff earlier to confuse me?”

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