Page 177 of Redeemed

“Do your parents know?” I ask.

“Not yet. The guys want to come home with me over Thanksgiving break, which shouldn’t be an issue. My parents’ house is big enough to fit all of us. You and I will have to share my room, but I figure that’s not too big of a deal.”

I hesitate. My assumption was that I’d have to stay cooped up in Colton’s house for Thanksgiving, no matter what the guys did. Hearing them say I could spend it with Athelia felt like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve been too afraid to go outside except for occasionally sitting on Colton’s back porch until I get too cold. Getting out of town would be nice.

But hearing that Colton will be spending it alone broke my heart. I didn’t believe him when he said holidays are overrated. If I didn’t know he lost his mother when he was young, maybe I could, but Idoknow.

He’s not my responsibility, and I shouldn’t care. If he wants to stay home and be miserable, that’s on him. But I find myself giving Athelia and apologetic smile and saying, “Julie and Ben invited me to Thanksgiving again this year. I’ve turned them down for so many years, so I figure it’s time I finally say yes.”

“Oh. Yeah, no, that makes perfect sense.”

Athelia is obviously disappointed, and I immediately wonder if I’m making a mistake. Spending Thanksgiving with Colton? Am I out of my mind?

But as we keep talking about it, I stick to what I said. For some stupid reason, I can’t stop thinking about Colton, all miserable and alone. God, I must be in PMS, because knowing he’ll be miserable should make me happy, not sad.

“They really don’t seem to have a clue?” I ask Athelia.

Maybe I could do the same thing.

The thought is shocking to me, and I shove it away immediately. I’m an expert at little fibs, but managing to pull off an elaborate scheme like this? Hell, no. There’s no way I could do it.

“No,” Athelia says. “I think I fought them enough in the beginning, and every once in a while, I snap at them. Not too harshly, just as a reminder that they still have to prove themselves. Which… they actually seem to be trying to do.”

“Oh?”

“Sometimes, it feels like we’re back in freshman year. They’re being so kind to me, Haven. It feels like it has to be fake, like they’re pretending or something, but then I look into their eyes, and they’re so… sincere.”

Yep. Something is definitely off.

My best friend is talking about her bullies wistfully.

Wistfully.

I’d shake her to get her to wake up, but her planisto destroy them emotionally. Maybe I’m imagining things.

“But that’s what you want, right?” I ask. “You need them to actually be invested in this.”

“I do,” she says absentmindedly.

Nope. Nope, nope, nope.I’ve gotta keep her on track.

“I for one can’t wait to see how miserable they end up,” I say, mostly to remind her of her own goal. “I’ll text you updates every time I see them.”

She laughs. “I can’t wait.”

Much better.

Haven

CatchingupwithAtheliais nice. We brainstorm a couple ways to get the guys even more hooked on her, and I’m relieved when the eagerness to hurt them returns to Athelia’s eyes. There’s no way she can end up with them. It’ll only cause her more hurt.

Every time Athelia asks about me, I give a vague answer to what I’ve been up to and redirect the conversation back to her. I can’t tell her the truth, and I’m not good enough to construct a believable, elaborate lie. Just little ones.

When she says she has to get going, I want to beg her to stay for another hour, but we’re both freezing, and I have classes to watch. So I give Athelia a long, hard hug. I have no idea when I’ll see her again, especially if she’s going to be moving in with her parents at Christmas.

“You said you’re walking back to our dorm?” Athelia asks. “You sure you don’t want me to take you?”

“No, I’ve got it. I didn’t get outside much last week, so I don’t mind the fresh air. I’ll probably head into town first and get a hot chocolate or something.”

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