Page 7 of Never Your Girl

Anytime.

Enough of the heavy stuff. It’s time to lighten the mood a bit.

Me

Pretty sure thinking’s overrated, you know?

FragileLikeABomb

Probably.

Before I can fire off a response, hers pops up.

FragileLikeABomb

So stop overthinking. You don’t have to carry everything alone.

And just like that, the weight pressing down on my shoulders lifts a fraction. She has a way of making me feel like maybe I’m not as alone as I thought.

Me

You’re incredible, you know that?

FragileLikeABomb

Nah. Just telling it like it is.

I stare at her message for a long moment as a rare sense of peace settles over me. It’s amazing how one person—someone I’ve never met—can keep me grounded when everything else feels like it’s spiraling out of control.

Me

Thanks.

I drop my head against the seat as her words echo in my mind, and then Holland’s face flashes behind my eyes. That’s all it takes to destroy the delicate peace blanketing me.

I have the sneaking suspicion that I know exactly who’s behind the messages.

My fingers rise to touch my cheek.

Now I just need to prove it.

3

Holland

“Are we still grabbing lunch at the Union?” Willow asks as we cut across campus for our ten o’clock classes. The sun is out in full force, and the warmth feels good on my face.

“Yeah, pretty sure,” I say.

“Pretty sure?” Her eyebrow lifts.

I huff out a breath. “Yeah, I’ve been trying to get ahold of Vivienne. If she doesn’t text back within the next hour, I’ll need to pop home and make sure she’s still alive.”

I wish I were kidding.

“Oh. Everything good on that front?” The concern in Willow’s voice makes my chest tight. She’s seen enough of my mom’s greatest hits to know what “checking on her” usually means.

“I sure as hell hope so.”

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