Page 104 of Beyond the Hate

Nova rushes to me and engulfs me in a hug. “You’re not going to die alone.”

Maya rubs a hand up and down my back. “This is just a bump in the road. Eli will realize his mistake and come crawling back.”

I step away from them. “No. There will be no reconciliation with Eli. And you’re not going to spend the day convincing me otherwise.”

“Good.” Sophia rubs her hands together. “We can get to the fun portion of our evening. We can—”

“figure out how to prank Eli,” Chloe interrupts to say.

“No. We are not pranking Eli.”

Chloe sticks out her bottom lip. “Why not?”

“There’s no sense in pranking him anyway,” Nova says before I can explain my aversion to spending time in jail – again. “According to Blossom, Eli’s leaving today and he won’t be back for at least a few weeks.”

My stomach cramps. He’s leaving. He dumped me and is leaving? He doesn’t even want to try and reconcile? He’s avoiding me as if he’s disgusted with me?

I place a hand on my stomach and force those thoughts away. I don’t want to reconcile with Eli. He’s a First Class Douchebag who couldn’t even be bothered to listen to my side of the story.

I can’t be with a man who won’t listen to me. I spent my childhood with a stepfather and mother who didn’t care about my thoughts or feelings. I won’t spend a lifetime with a partner who does the same.

“If we’re not pranking him, can we at least get drunk?” Chloe asks.

“I’m pregnant,” Maya says.

“Breastfeeding,” Nova adds.

“All the more for us.” Chloe walks toward the door.

“Have a good time,” I holler after her.

She points at me. “You’re coming with.”

“No, I am not. I am not going to Mermaid Karaoke and singing my heart out.”

She shrugs. “Summer’s over. Mermaid Karaoke is done anyway.”

“And I am not going toRumrunnerand drinking shots of whiskey all night.”

“ButRumrunnerandBootleggerare the only bars in Smuggler’s Rest,” she pouts.

“We could go to the resort,” Sophia suggests. “Or toSmuggler’s Cove.”

“No way.” Nova shakes her head. “I’m not getting banned from the restaurant because you three got drunk and rowdy at the bar.”

“I didn’t say anything about getting rowdy,” Chloe says.

Nova rolls her eyes. “It’s implied.”

“Fine. We’ll go to the resort.” Chloe motions to the door. “Let’s load up!”

Not happening. “I’m not going to the resort.”

Chloe huffs. “What’s the problem now? We won’t get banned from there. Nova’s baby daddy owns the place.”

Nova glares at her. “Stop referring to Hudson as my baby daddy.”

“Why? Is he not Iliana’s dad?” Chloe feigns confusion. She’s lying. She’s also being a good friend. She’s trying to take my mind off of Eli. It’s sweet. But it’s not going to work.

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