Page 51 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

TJ

How was the big date?

Istare at the message on my screen without blinking. Today is Sunday. It’s been three days since I overheard TJ’s weird phone call with this Vera girl.

Call me impulsive, but I haven’t been answering his texts since—all four of them. I refuse to be a pawn in some twisted cheating scheme. I knew he was a player, so I shouldn’t be surprised that he’s dating some girl, but I want no part of it.

I scroll through his other messages.

TJ

Hey, you still alive?

TJ

Aaron told me he rescheduled the date for tonight.

Then there’s the message he sent me five minutes ago.

TJ

Is everything ok?

I tap out of our conversation and place my phone face down on the bathroom vanity. I’m almost done with my makeup. Mrs. Harrison should be here any second. Then I’m off to meet Aaron at the Grill House.

I sure hope TJ’s not working tonight. It’s bad enough that I made out with him when he has a girlfriend. I don’t need him watching Aaron and me the entire night.

Mrs. Harrison shows up a few minutes early, and I give her a quick rundown of what she has to do. Step one: get the casserole I made from the fridge and heat it up for Sierra and Oli. Step two: make sure Oli does his homework. Simple enough.

She knows the drill by now, and she’s quick to reassure me that she has everything under control before telling me to go and enjoy myself.

The drive over to the Grill House is quick and a little overwhelming. I’m not sure saying yes to that second date was a good move. The closer I get to the restaurant, the more hesitant I feel.

I have to talk myself into getting out of the car, and when I do, my stomach weaves itself into a knot of anxiety. Am I nervous about seeing Aaron? Or am I nervous because I might run into TJ?

The answer reveals itself to me when I walk into the crowded restaurant and see Aaron waiting for me by the reception desk.

His smile is warm and inviting, and seeing him doesn’t affect my inner turmoil in the slightest.

That makes it clear for me. My nerves aren’t because of Aaron. They’re because of TJ. Knowing he might be lurking somewhere is messing with my head.

Not that it matters. I’ve been doing a pretty good job at ignoring him thus far; what’s one more night of pretending like he doesn’t exist?

“Lacey, hey. You look…” Aaron’s words trail off for a moment. “…great.”

Not to sound conceited, but I agree. I put quite a bit of effort into this look—from the cute sundress and heels I’m wearing to the smoky eye makeup I spent an hour perfecting.

I offer him a polite smile. “Thanks.”

“The hostess said it shouldn’t be long,” he says.

Man, this part is awkward—thestanding in silence, waiting to be satpart.

“Are you feeling better? I know you were sick last week.” Aaron makes small talk.

“Oh, um, yeah. Much better. I can breathe through my nose again. I forgot what that was like.” I try a joke, and it seems to break the ice because, from there, the conversation flows naturally.

We discuss all sorts of things, such as the weather, the midterms coming up, and our plans for spring break. He tells me that he’s supposed to take a trip to Milan with his family but that he’s bummed out because he wanted to go to Greece.

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