Page 103 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

Did he really just run the other away?

“Glad you could make it.” Chance stops before us, and guilt immediately consumes me.

Poor guy’s got a concussion. The doctors kept him for a few days, and they’re confident he’ll make a full recovery, but last I heard, he had to make arrangements to push back his midterms. He couldn’t study due to the persistent headaches and dizziness.It could’ve been worse, but it also could’ve been much better. And it’s all because he agreed to help us. I feel horrible about it.

“Hey, guys,” Aaron says, and I have to control myself, otherwise I’ll be bombarding him with questions about the argument I saw.

I shift my focus over to Chance. “How are you? Have your headaches gotten any better? I never got the chance to thank you for what you did. I’m so sorry?—”

Chance interrupts me. “Lacey, it’s fine, really. You didn’t do this. We’re good.”

My shoulders release all tension.

“I’m sorry anyway. And if there’s anything I can do, just let me know.”

“You could start by coming to my dad’s cabin this weekend. My old man agreed to let us use it. We’d leave tomorrow. You’re all invited.”

How do I politely tell him that I have plans this week? And how do I cover up the fact that those plans aresleeping?

“I thought since I arranged for my midterms to be delayed, you could help me with my studies like that time you tutored me. I can’t seem to focus these days, and I need the help. What do you say? There’s a hot tub.” He gives me the puppy eyes.

Well… I can hardly say no, now, can I?

He’s struggling to keep up with school because he got injured trying to protect my sister. Of course I’m going to tutor him. How could I not?

I’ll have to ask my neighbor to watch my siblings for the weekend. That or ask her to watch them on Saturday and get a babysitter on Sunday.

“Sure, I’ll be happy to.”

“Really? Thanks, Lacey. You’re the best. I’ll bring my books, and we can study Sunday morning. I’ll add you to the group chat for the details.”

With that, he walks off.

“Did you know about this cabin thing?” I ask Dia.

She nods. “He invited me and Finn yesterday.”

“And is everybody going?”

“Yeah, I think so. Last I heard, it was going to be Xavier, Aveena, Theo, TJ, and?—”

“Me.” Aaron reminds us of his presence.

Shit.

You mean to tell me I’m going to be stuck in a cabin in the woods with Aaron and TJ—the two of whom clearly aren’t getting along right now—for the entire weekend?

What the hell did I just get myself into?

Lacey

TJ

Hey, where’d you go? We haven’t said a word to each other all night.

Istare at my phone with an open mouth, trying—and failing—to make sense of the text message on my screen.

I’m just seeing it now, but he sent me that text a little after 1:00 a.m. The girls and I had just called it a night and gotten into Dia’s car to go home.

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