Page 50 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

My stomach somersaults when his mouth falls open. It’s almost nothing, barely noticeable, but I get the sense that he’s just had a realization and it caught him off guard.

I’m surprised as well. Surprised that I find myself wanting to kiss him again. And I might be operating on crazy, but I start to lean in.

I’m convinced I must be imagining things when he does the same, moving forward slowly. I only realize I’ve closed my eyes when a loud ringtone slices through the air.

My eyes snap open just in time to see TJ backing away from me like he just got shocked.

He pulls his phone out and takes a look at the screen.

Unease is evident on his face. “I have to take it.”

This is so embarrassing. I had my eyes closed, waiting for him to kiss me like a complete loser.

“No problem.”

He picks up the call and immediately heads for the living room as though he doesn’t want me to hear. He’s never told me anything about his life, and while being nosy is definitely not the way to pry more information out of him, it doesn’t stop me from chasing after him.

I’ve already done one stupid thing today. I might as well make that two.

I tiptoe down the hall, edging toward the living room, and peek my head around the corner to find TJ pacing around.

“I know, I said I would be there. I’m sorry, Vera. I got held up.”

Vera?

Who the hell is Vera?

“I’m on my way, okay? I can’t wait to see you.”

Silence.

“Yeah, I love you, too.”

What the…

Unfortunately for me, he doesn’t say anything else and hangs up the phone before I can fill in the blanks. I’m quick to return to the kitchen. I’m pretending to scroll on my phone when he enters the room.

“Hey, I have this thing with…” He stops himself abruptly. “I have to get going. I’ll be there to pick up Kelsea tomorrow.”

I give him a nod, appearing unbothered when my mind is racing with questions and possibilities about Vera’s identity.

Does he have a secret girlfriend?

Holy shit.

I bet he’s dating some girl and lying to her. Am I an accessory to cheating? No, I can’t be.

She’d know about me, considering he kissed me in front of everyone at the party. Unless… we don’t run in the same circle, so she’d have no way of knowing. That must be it. This Vera girl probably doesn’t go to Duke, so he can get away with lying.

He turns to leave, halting a few steps later. “Oh, and, Lacey?”

“Yeah?”

“Good luck on your date.”

He’s just walked out of my house when I let out a bitter “Good luck on yours.”

Lacey

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