Page 95 of Never Your Girl

Try me.

I stare at the screen, my throat tightening. There’s no way I can tell him what’s really going on. That I’ve been falling for Bridger in real life while growing closer to ColdAsIce17 online. That it’s starting to feel like I’m being split in two.

Me

Just the usual. Life. School. People being people.

ColdAsIce17

Hmmm. Sounds suspiciously vague. Want to get specific, or should I start guessing?

I huff out a laugh despite myself. He always knows how to cut through my BS. It might be the reason this feels so hard.

Instead of coming clean, I turn the question around on him.

Me

What about you? You’ve been awfully quiet.

It’s only after typing the comment that I realize how true it is. He’s been just as MIA. But I haven’t noticed because I’ve been spending so much time with Bridger.

It makes me wonder…

The dots appear, then disappear, and my stomach knots as I wait.

ColdAsIce17

There’s just been a lot of shit to figure out.

It’s cautiously that I type out my reply.

Me

Kind of sounds like we’re in the same place.

ColdAsIce17

Maybe we are.

I grip my phone tighter, my thumbs moving before I can think.

Me

Anything you want to bring to the circle of trust?

ColdAsIce17

That’s a loaded question.

Me

How so?

ColdAsIce17

I think I’ll save it for another day.

I bite my lip, deciding not to push it any further. That’s never been our relationship.

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