Page 53 of Counter Bet

“Huh.” My heart squeezes. I’m happy for him. I truly am, but I’m not stone cold. We were together for two years, so of course, it’s going to be a mixture of feelings.

“I didn’t want you to find out at school tomorrow.”

I blow on my nails. “It’s okay.”

“Is it? Are you?” she whispers, placing her hand on my knee.

I haven’t told her about Ben and Dallas. I don’t want her to make a big thing of it.

I meet her concerned eyes and smile. My heart is feeling lighter already. “I am definitely okay. I want Rick to be happy. I don’t want him to hurt.”

She presses her lips together. Her eyes shine with sympathy. “I’m here if you need to talk.”

There are a lot of things I need to tell her about. My breakup with Rick doesn’t fall into that category. The more I think about it, the lighter I feel. Worrying about Rick has been a heavy weight on my shoulders. He’s moving on, and that can only be a good thing.

* * *

Dallas drops down in the seat next to me, opens her notebook, and begins copying the notes on the whiteboard.

I stare at her in surprise before scanning the classroom for Hailey. She hasn’t arrived yet.

Dallas digs in her pocket. She pulls out a hair tie and puts her hair up in a high ponytail. I stare at her creamy neck. She is yet to talk to me or look at me.

She most likely thinks I don’t want to be seen with her in public. Am I really that shallow?

She puts a piece of paper on my desk and flashes a quick smile.

I pick it up and turn it over in my lap. It’s not a piece of paper, after all. It’s a photograph of Ben sitting on a stool in the bathroom with a towel on his bare shoulders and his hair covered in green hair dye.

I lift my gaze and look at Dallas questioningly. “Why are you giving me a picture of Shrek?”

“Ha! Shrek! Good one,” she sniggers. “It’s a gift from Ben. He said it’s an addition to the stalker collage you keep of him in your locker. This way, he gets to control the narrative.” Her lips twitch.

I stare incredulously at the photograph in my lap for a long minute, then burst out laughing, startling a couple of students nearby

“Do you want to do something tonight?”

My laughter dies in my throat. I search her blue eyes. “I have cheer practice, but I’m free after that.”

“Good.” She smiles, pushing her chair back. “The abandoned warehouse at seven. Be there.” She stands up and walks over to her usual seat. I stare after her, missing her blue eyes on me already.

I’m about to call her back when the chair next to me scrapes against the floor, and Hailey drops down.

“Sorry, I’m late. Jamie dragged me into the supply closet for a quicky, but that boy doesn’t know the meaning of the word.”

“Most women consider that a good thing, Hailey.”

She nudges me playfully with her shoulder. “Do I look like I’m complaining?”

“No, you don’t, but you should probably cover up those two hickeys on your neck,” I reply, pointing them out.

She clamps a hand over her long throat. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Nope,” I say, popping the P.

She lets out a shriek so loud the whole class looks over. She’s oblivious, of course. “I’m going to kill him!”

I rub her back soothingly. “Now, now, babe. Let’s take a deep breath. There’s no need for violence.”

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