Page 35 of The Chance

“Tyro,” he mutters, stopping just short of me, his throat bobbing with a swallow. “Did you hear Leo?”

He deserves a better friend.

I dip my chin in affirmation.

One that doesn’t wake up with a stiffy in his back.

“That’s cool … right? We’re going abroad.”

One that’s not confusing friendship and sexuality with loneliness.

He forces a smile that I return and it’s like he can already tell.

Someone that’s gonna light him up, not tear him down.

“Yeah,” I lie. “It’s good.”

I clear my throat, though it does nothing to loosen the muscles hellbent on choking me to death.

He deserves this. A chance. A fresh start.

Without me killing his light.

I nod even though he hasn’t said anything else.

He deserves to find that.

He playfully pushes at my tense shoulder that barely moves, his hand dropping to his side.

“Yeah,” I say again, though I don’t feel any bit of it. “It’ll be fun.”

For you.

Chapter Seventeen

Mac

With every day thatthe band gets closer to us leaving, Jordan pulls away from me.

It started with having Peach take me home the night that we found out about the tour and continued with him shutting me out in every way. Even when we are in the same room, he’s avoided me. He hasn’t come to my apartment to check in. Hasn’t slept near me. Hasn’t called.

Today will be the third day in a row that I haven’t evenseen him.

Instead, Peach has been hanging out as if their assignments have changed and everyone forgot to tell me.

The ache in my chest has burrowed deeper with each moment that passes without Jordan, steadily feeding into something uglier I’ve done my best to tame.

But when I call him for the second time, hoping he’ll pick up and tell me he’ll meet us at the airport, and I get sent straight to voicemail, I lose it.

Did he figure out I’m in love with him?

The keys to my car cut into my palm with how hard I grip them. The elevator too slow. The drive too long. My pulse too high.

And when I pull up outside of Aria’s shop, the blanket of a cloudy night feeling like just another added weight on my shoulders, I storm through the front entrance with purpose.

“Mac, what the hell are you doing here? Where’s Peach?”

My chest pumps with my pants. “Fuck Peach. Andfuck you.”

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