Page 85 of The Score

“Please.”

The sincerity in his tone causes me to cave. I pick up the envelope. It’s not sealed, but the flap is tucked in so I use my fingernail to pry it out. I peekinside and see a single sheet of paper, which I extract and unfold as I fight my growing trepidation.

Shock hits me first. Followed by suspicion. Followed by deep distress, because…what the heck am I supposed to say tothis?

I’m staring at a confirmation receipt for two airline tickets to Los Angeles, California. The flight departs the day after graduation.

I bite my lip and lift my gaze to Sean’s.

“You and me, baby,” he says fervently. “This is what I should’ve done in the first place. It was stupid to try and force you to move to Vermont. What I needed to do was swallow my pride and move toLA. With you.”

Oh God. Why did I insist on meeting in public? Public isbad. Public means everyone is about to witness Sean’s agony and humiliation when I say?—

“No.”

Uncertainty passes over his face. “What?”

“You’re not coming to LA with me.”

Sean’s mouth opens. Then closes. Then opens again. I give him a moment to digest what I just said. Unfortunately, it’s the same moment my phone buzzes. I dig around in my purse and…wonderful, a text from Dean.

Him: Game’s done. Hurricanes rocked it like a hurricane. Beau can’t meet up til later. Quickie?

God, I wish.

Me: Can’t. In the middle of something brutal over here.

“Why not?” Sean finally asks.

“Because…” I’m distracted.

Him: Everything ok?

Me: Yeah. Having coffee with Sean.

There’s an interminably long delay.

Sean is still waiting for me to answer. I’m waiting for Dean to answer. I realize I probably shouldn’t have said anything to Dean, but I’d been typing on autopilot.

He comes back with:

WTF?

Me: I know *sigh* I’ll explain everything later, k?

There’s no response after that, and Sean is looking increasingly irritated. “Who are you texting?” he demands.

“Hannah,” I lie.

The worst part about dating someone for as long as I dated Sean? Theyalwaysknow when you’re lying.

“Bullshit.” Anger infuses his eyes, dark and fierce. “Is it that guy? The one you slept with?”

“No, it’s not.” This time I don’t care if he sees through the lie. “And even if it was, it’s none of your business. We’re broken up.” I take a breath. “And that’s the reason you can’t come to LA with me.”

Sean’s mouth flattens. His face and neck take on a deep flush. Even the tips of his ears are red. “You don’t mean that.”

“Yes, I do. I’m sorry. I just think…it’s time we moved on from each other.”

---