Page 79 of Face Me Off

She flinches, but that pinched expression remains. “So the real reason you took Jade to prom back then was because you were afraid of my dad.”

“I wasn’t afraid.” My hands tighten around the steering wheel. This night just keeps getting shittier and shittier. “Life wasn’t good after the fall. I figured it’d be best if I listened and stayed away. I asked Jade, knowing it’d piss you off enough to leave me alone. But I never thought about the long-term ramifications.”

She stiffens beside me.

“Wow.” She shakes her head and grabs the door handle.

“Come on, Madison. Don’t leave.”

“Watch me.”

“You can’t hold this against me.” I try to reach for her but then think better of it.

“No, but I can’t deal with this right now. I need to process everything.”

“That has nothing to do with us now.”

“That,as you like to call it, hurt me badly. Yes, I can get over it, but this feels like ripping open the wound again. So yeah, I need time to process.”

“How long?” I ask, my voice hoarse.

She shakes her head. “I don’t know. But I need time to figure things out and to figure out who I am outside of my family’s shadow.”

Pain laces her tone, but I don’t argue. The worst thing I ever did was hurt Madison Grimes years ago. I’ll spend the rest of my life making up for it. But for tonight, I’ll respect her wishes and hope I haven’t screwed things up between us.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

MADISON

Tears blurmy vision as I round the car in the curbside drop-off zone at LAX. Saying goodbye to my friend is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It feels like my heart’s being ripped from my chest.

Once I reach Amanda on the curb, I pull her into a tight hug. She buries her face in my shoulder and wraps her arms around me.

“I can’t believe you’re really leaving,” I murmur into her hair. “What will I do without my best friend and roommate?”

She lets out a shaky laugh. “Probably burn too many dinners.” She pulls back as I give a shaky laugh. “Promise you’ll come visit this summer?”

“Of course! Boston won’t know what hit it when we’re reunited.” I force a grin, trying to lighten the mood. But my smile fades as the guilt gnaws at my stomach.

“I’m going to hold you to that.” She wipes tears away with the back of her hand. “Thanks for being there for me.”

“Always.” But the word tastes sour on my tongue. Everything is so messed up. Amanda still doesn’t know the truth about Ryan and me.

A car honks impatiently behind us, and Amanda glances over her shoulder.

“I’m so sorry, Madds, but I really need to get going, or I’ll miss my flight.” She squeezes me one last time. “We’ll catch up soon, okay? I love you!”

“Love you too,” I choke out as she grabs her bags and disappears inside the terminal.

I stand there until she’s out of sight, the emptiness settling like a stone in my chest. I should’ve told her about Ryan months ago—after the Gala, after the emergency with Blake’s father—but I kept waiting for the “right” moment. It never came.

God, I’m an awful friend.

I trudge back to my car, already missing her. No more late-night pep talks, coffee shop meetups, or froyo runs after dinner. Next semester will feel like a ghost town without her.

The California sun beats down as I merge onto the highway. I crank the AC, wishing it could cool the storm brewing inside me. My phone pings an email alert. I ignore it and head toward my parents’ house.

By the time I pull into the driveway, I’m no calmer. I slump against the steering wheel before finally checking the notification. My stomach flips when I see the subject line—Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, Young Artist Competition.

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