Page 131 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

My heart aches at his words.

“Most importantly, what kind of a mother would ask him to?” he adds.

Tears begin to well in my eyes, and I open my mouth to tell him how much that means to me, only to get interrupted by my phone going nuts in the distance.

Daniel and I exchange glances.

It’s clear my phone just turned back on after I plugged it, and the notifications I didn’t get are coming through all at once.

It just won’t stop.

Ping, ping, ping.

What the hell is going on?

“Let me just mute my phone real quick,” I tell Daniel and make a beeline for my phone in the entryway.

My stomach sinks when I see the name all over my screen.

Ten missed calls from TJ.

And he’s sent me God knows how many texts.

TJ

I need to see you.

TJ

I know you must hate me, but please let me explain.

TJ

I meant every word of what I said that night. The way I feel for you isn’t a lie.

TJ

I don’t expect you to forgive me, but at least give me a chance to tell you everything.

TJ

Lacey, please.

TJ

Lacey, I love you…

Just like that, the tears are flowing down my face and robbing me of my sight. He can’t seriously be trying to pretendlike he loves me after all of this. This has to be just another one of his tricks to hurt me. He doesn’t mean it.

I’m about to block his number when there’s a loud knock on the door. The sound of insistent knocking travels through the house again.

“Are you going to get that?” Daniel asks from the kitchen.

More knocking.

“I got it!” I shout.

I open the door, my heart inflating with joy when I see my two best friends on the other side. They each have a mountain of snacks and ice cream tubs huddled up in their arms—not to mention that pity-ridden look stamped across their faces.

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