Page 183 of Zero Chance

I tried not to let that bother me.Keene was free to eat wherever he liked and do whatever he wanted.But he’d been a very considerate, communicative, and attentive boyfriend up until now.It just seemedoffthat he wouldn’t even let me know he wouldn’t be around.The guy I’d grown used to dating would’ve freaking invited me along.

But Xander seemed to have an answer for that.Nudging my arm, she sent me a conspiratorial grin and said, “Oh my God.Keene’s taking Alec with him to pick you out some kind of present; I just know it.”

I frowned at her and scoffed.“Whatever.”

She pointed giddily.“You just watch.Five bucks says I’m right.”

I rolled my eyes but secretly wondered if Keenewasbeing so quiet because he was planning some kind of surprise.It did sound like something he would do.On Saturday, he’d surprised me by showing up at Cowpoke’s where I’d been working.He brought me sunflowers, sat at the bar, and ordered freaking fountain drinks and nachos all night just to flirt with me until closing.Then, he had walked me and my dad out to our car, holding my hand and trying his damnedest to charm my father the entire way.

But this felt different.It felt…wrong.And when even his ghost mother asked about his whereabouts when he didn’t stop by that afternoon during my shift at the library, I knew in my bones that something bad had happened.

So it was no wonder why I was pacing my room that evening, debating whether I would look clingy and insecure if I just called to check in and make sure everything was okay.

I wished I knew the proper procedures for dating.A normal girlfriend probably would’ve called him five times by now, like right at noon when he wasn’t already sitting at his normal table in the student union where he always sat.But I wasn’t normal.And I didn’t want him to think it was bad for him to go off and do his own thing for one freaking day.

But the itch under my skin was the same sense of dread I’d gotten when I’d entered the kitchen the night my babysitter had killed himself.I hadn’t even stepped in the door or seen the blood, and I just knew…

When my phone dinged from my bed, I dove toward it, wilting in relief to find a message from him.

Want to come over?

My brow furrowed because he always—always—offered to pick me up at my front door, even when we only went right back to his place to hang out there for the rest of the evening.But I wasn’t going to question it.He was talking to me.I’d been freaking out for nothing.And I was going to forget what a weirdo I was.

Sure.Twenty minutes?

I’ll be here.

See.All normal.Nothing to worry about.I really needed to cut my doomsday mentality down a few sizes or it was going to get the best of me.I was such an overanalyzing worrywart.

Downstairs, both of my parents were in the kitchen as I hurried through.My dad sat at the counter, reading on his iPad, and Mom had her back to me as she cooked something sizzling on the skillet.

“I’m going over to Xander’s for a while,” I announced, thinking it best not to mention Keene and start another war in the house.

Dad nodded and picked up his mug of coffee to take a sip.“Okay.Have a good time.”

“I will, thanks.”Smiling, I paused to give him a grateful kiss on the cheek for being so chill and relaxed.

His eyebrows lifted in surprise, but he said nothing as I turned away.My mother remained at the stove, not acknowledging me at all.

We hadn’t spoken to each other since Valentine’s Day night, and I missed her attention as much as I was relieved by the reprieve from her hateful criticism.

But my mother wasn’t who was consuming all my thoughts right now.

Still glad Keene had summoned me, I hurried outside to my MINI Cooper and drove to his place.

At Archer House, I went to the back door and knocked once before letting myself into the kitchen, finding only Alec there, digging through the refrigerator.

He glanced over distractedly, only to do a double-take and straighten to his full height with wide, frozen eyes when he saw me.

“W-Waverly,” he squeaked out, suddenly unable to look at me as he glanced away quickly as if he’d caught me naked or something.“Hey.How’s it going?”The cheer in his voice was so forced I felt extremely self-conscious.

“Hey,” I mumbled, crossing my arms protectively over my chest.“Uh, Keene just called and invited me to come over.”

“Oh.”He nodded and finally risked a glance in my direction.This time, his smile was sad, almost apologetic, like maybe he was silently saying goodbye because he knew his best friend was about to dump my freakish, insecure ass, and he was never going to see me again.He hitched his head toward the doorway to the rest of the house.“Yeah, he’s in his room.Go on down.”

“Thanks,” I said, my chest heavy with doom.

But this was it.He’d gotten bored with me.

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