Page 16 of Fool Me Once

I nod my head, tears welling in my eyes.

We spend the morning sipping coffee and watching our new favorite show. She doesn’t pry, and I don’t say much either.

I wish every person in the world had a friend like Saylor Sawyer. A true ride or die. A soulmate. A better half.

Because if they did, they’d never have to feel alone again.

“All right, so it’s been a wonderful day, and we both needed it and all; however, I should probably shower. I’m sure I look like ass,” I say, yawning even though all I’ve done today is watch television and it’s now late afternoon.

As I throw the blanket from my legs, Saylor stops me by putting her hand on my arm.

“Gemmy?” she pipes. “I have something to tell you.” Her eyebrows pinch together, and she chews her bottom lip nervously. “And I need you to promise me that you aren’t going to hate me for it.”

“Did you change your opinion that Coke beats Pepsi?” I joke. “Because, yeah, if so, we might have ourselves a problem.”

When she doesn’t giggle or even smile, I know something is wrong. I can read her like a book. I know when she’s going to say something that is going to suck to hear.

Turning toward me, she takes my hands in hers. “A while back, before I thought you were ever coming back to Maine and after I got hurt by someone … I applied for a travel nursing job in South Carolina. I didn’t think I’d ever get it.”

My heart sinks, and my eyes widen as I wait for what she’s going to say next.

“A few days before you got here, the hospital called and said I got the job.” A tear floats down her cheek, and her hands squeeze mine tighter. “I would have never applied if I had known you were coming home. I’m sorry.”

It stings, knowing she’s going to be leaving. For years, I was stuck in California without her, and it was the hardest part of being there. Not having my best friend sucked. But if she applied for the job, it’s something she wanted, and that’s all I need to know to be happy for her.

Moving my hands, I squeeze hers back and smile through my tears. “Sails, don’t say sorry because that’s incredible.” I sniffle. “I’m proud of you for chasing after your dreams.”

“I wish you could come with me, but the hospital set me up in a really small apartment with a girl who’s going to be my coworker. I just hate to leave you to find a place to live, especially when youjustgot here.” She sighs dramatically. “I know the last place you want to go right now is back to your parents’ house.”

She’s right; that is the last place I want to go. Well, not the last, but it’s certainly not my first pick either. Right now, I need to heal. I love my parents, and they love me, but I wouldn’t be comfortable going home at this point in time.

“Could I take the apartment over?” I shrug, looking around. “I mean, that way, it’ll be here if you ever want to come back.”

Grimacing, she pulls her hands back and wipes her cheeks. “The day after I found out I got the job, I was telling one of my friends at work—”

“Coworker,” I say, my lips turning up in a smirk. “I’m your only friend, right?”

She knows I’m teasing and rolls her eyes. We’ve always had an inside joke about having other friends.

“Yes, yes.” She nods. “I was telling mycoworker,and she asked if she could take over my apartment because her lease was up.” She cringes. “I toldher yes. Again … I didn’t know you were going to be here. Had I known, I would have turned down the job and kept my apartment.”

“And for that reason alone, I’m thankful you didn’t know I was coming here,” I say honestly. “Because this job? It sounds pretty incredible.”

“Thanks,” she answers shyly. “I have an idea, but I don’t think you’re going to like it.” She swallows. “Before I tell you, just know that it would make me feel better about leaving because I’d know you were safe.”

Standing up, I walk toward the small kitchen and grab a bottle of water from the sideboard because my best friend only likes room-temperature water. “I don’t like the sound of this,” I say practically under my breath, twisting the cap off and taking a sip. “Go on. Tell me this grand idea.”

She stands up and leans against the couch, chewing her cheek. “I think you should move in with Smith,” she answers. “His house is huge. Much too large for just him anyway.”

I snort, leaning over and putting a hand on my stomach as I laugh. When I stand back upright, she meekly stares at me, her eyebrows slightly raised.

“Oh fuck, you’re serious?” I utter, looking at my friend like she’s lost her damn mind. “You, like, actually think I should shack up with your brother. The same guy who slept with me for weeks upon weeks, let me tell him I loved him, and then slept with meagain, only to ghost me days later. That same dude. That’s your plan?”

“Before he messed everything up, you two were friends,” she says sadly. “We were all friends.”

“Yeah, and if I had just kept my pants on, we’d probably all still be fine,” I deadpan.

I take another sip of water before catching her staring at me again.

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