Page 133 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

He’s been doing what?

Wow, he’s going to my best friends for help.Someone’s desperate.

“We haven’t been responding, but we do think it couldn’t hurt for you to hear him out.”

I scoff. “Why? So he can feed me more lies? I’m good.”

“But what if you’re missing a key element of the story? Maybe he had a reason for wanting to hurt you. I’m not saying it would make it okay, but it might help you understand,” Aveena says.

Dia grabs a handful of popcorn from the bowl on the table. “Remember how Finn and I started? He hated my guts at first. He spent most of the summer I spent working for his dad trying to get me fired. He stooped pretty damn low to get rid of me, but we put it behind us, and now we’re happier than ever.”

I don’t think she realizes that she and Finn are the exception, not the rule. And she says it like him trying to get her fired was the only obstacle standing in the way of their relationship, which is a gross oversimplification. These two went through hell trying to make it work.

“I’m just saying, maybe he felt justified in his head. It’s fucked up, but it’s true,” Dia explains.

“And he wouldn’t be calling everyone and their mother trying to get you to talk to him if he didn’t at least feel something for you,” Aveena states.

“He doesn’t. He was faking it. Now, can we talk about something else? Please?”

I can’t do this right now. I just stopped crying. Call me avoidant, but this is the first time I’ve felt semi-okay since I found out this was all a game to TJ, and I’d rather not dwell on Mr. Compulsive Liar for a while.

I can tell the girls want to dig deeper, but they agree out of respect.

“All right, what do we feel like doing tonight? We need to get you out of the house,” Aveena says.

I’m not sold on the idea. “Can’t we just stay in and watch a movie?”

“No, I agree with Vee. You could use the fresh air.” Dia pauses to think. “Why don’t we go to the drive-in downtown? I thought I’d go with Finn, but he has plans with the guys tonight.”

Aveena’s face lights up. “I think that’s a great idea! We can take Xavier’s truck, bring a ton of blankets, and watch the movie in the bed.”

They whisk their heads in my direction.

I cringe. “I don’t know… It depends on the movie. No romantic crap, or I’m out.”

“It’s a comedy. An Adam Sandler movie. I know you like those. And the movie’s at eight, so it’s not too late,” Dia tries to coax me into agreeing.

She’s right. I adore Adam Sandler. I used to watch his movies all the time with my dad, Sierra, and Oli.

“What about my siblings?” I drum up an excuse.

“Isn’t Daniel staying with you for a while? I’m sure he can watch them this one time,” Aveena says.

Damn it. Why are my friends so smart?

“But he left to run some errands. I don’t know when he’ll be back.”

“I remember him saying he shouldn’t be longer than an hour earlier,” Dia reminds me.

I’m running low on excuses. “But… what if it gets cold?”

Dia’s lips curve into a smirk. She knows what I’m doing. “Then you’ll bring a sweater. And we’ll have lots of blankets.”

They have an answer for everything, don’t they?

Aveena laughs. “Now, do you have another excuse, or are you going to go shower, get out of those pj’s, and come stuff your face with popcorn with us?”

Shit.

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