Page 1 of Pretend You Love Me
Prologue
Brooklyn
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I stop at a gas station just before I reach the border. After taking a shaky breath, I pull out my phone. I need to text my family and tell them...tell them what? I’m not telling them what I’m doing or where I’m going. I can’t tell them any of that, but I will tell them I’m going away. Not to worry. I’ll be fine.
I sigh.
They are going to be furious. Delaying it won’t make it any easier. I open the family group text and start to type.
Sterling Family Group Text
Me: I just wanted all of you to know I’m going away for a while. I’ll be off the grid. I don’t want you to worry. I’ll be back by the end of the summer.
Declan: I want to come. Take me with you.
Eli: Is this a joke?
Me: No.
Eli: James is going to shit a brick.
Juno: Do you have a secret boyfriend?
Me: No.
Keene: Are you running away?
Me: I’m an adult. I can’t run away.
Keene: This is a bad idea.
Me: Declan does things like this all the time and no one cares.
Declan: I’m not as pretty as you.
Me: That’s sexist.
Declan: Right. Okay. I’m a dumb idiot, that’s why. They don’t care what happens to me.
Me: You might be a dumb idiot but it’s still a sexist double standard.
Juno:word
Zadie: Is everything okay? Why are you doing this?
Me: I’m fine. Everything is fine. I just need to do something alone.
Declan: James is not going to like this.
Eli: Will is not going to like this.
Zadie: I don’t like this. Will you at least tell us where you are going?
Me: I can’t. I promise nothing is wrong. You don’t need to worry.
Will: What the hell, Brooklyn? Of course we are going to worry. Where are you going and why does it need to be a secret?
