Page 25 of The Love Interest
“I wouldn’t.”
She smiles.
You’re lucky we made you hot, Caden. If she wasn’t attracted to you she would’ve barfed.
Get lost, Kaylee!
Ugh, fine.
She’s looking down at her feet. “So, dinner at my place tonight. At seven?”
“Absolutely.”
“Good. Because Dad’s already organized everything. He’s making roast chicken. Wait, you’re not vegetarian or vegan or anything like that now, are you? It’s cool if you are, obviously. Maybe I should’ve talked to you before we planned everything.”
“It sounds perfect.”
“Great.”
“Great.”
At lunch, I sit between Juliet and the could-be model from yesterday, Natalie. I take a bite of my plain cheese sandwich. My parents hadn’t wrapped the cheese properly, so now it’s hard, cracked, and the color of mustard. But it was the only thing in the fridge, aside from a huge selection of beers. When I saw them I wondered what Dyl would think, and that made me smile.Together, we can try them all.Juliet turns to me. “You still look nervous, Caden. Is there a problem?”
I shake my head. “Nope. Everything’s cool.”
“You don’t need to lie to me. We’re old friends, remember?”
All I do is lie to you.
I imagine telling her the truth. Sitting her down and telling her what I am, who I work for, and the real reason I look the way I do. How would she deal with the revelation that I’m not the sweet, kind guy she thinks I am? Her face, warped by rage and sadness, fills my mind. Nothing could be worse than Juliet looking at me like that.
Then I think of the Stalker, sleek and black and impossibly strong, holding a detached head in its hands.
My head.
My eyes are closed, but my mouth is open. My tongue is sticking out, pink and flaccid. The skin of my cheeks is pale.
A torrent of blood gushes from the jagged stump of my neck. It falls onto my limp, crumpled body. The blood has drenched my clothes, making my white shirt cling to my muscles, showing the definition of my pecs and my abs.
That’swhy I lie. It isn’t my choice. It’s what I have to do.
“You’re my best friend,” I say. “I’d never lie to you. I’m tired. That’s all.”
“Good. Because you’d tell me if something was bothering you, right? Even if it’s the smallest thing, you could tell me, like when we were kids.”
“Right.”
***
The day passes and Dyl still hasn’t shown up. After the final bell, Juliet stops me before I get on the bus.
“So tonight, at seven. Ignore what I said about studying—it was an excuse to get you to come over. But this is me, being brave and saying that I want you to come over. After you’ve already said yes. Anyway, do you have a car?”
“I do.”
“Well, do you want to drive or should I swing by your place and pick you up?”
“The thing is, I only got my license a few weeks ago and I’m not confident driving on my own yet. I know that sounds pathetic but… I’ll catch the bus. It’ll be fine.”
