Page 71 of Counter Bet

I drop my gaze. It’s not like I want her to find out the real reason for the argument. How do you tell someone you care about that your best friend thinks they’re bad for your image.

When I fail to respond, she nods knowingly. “She knew we were there for you. I’m sorry.”

“No!” I rush to reply, shaking my head. “She worries about me. I told her everything.Everything, Dallas! She’s just concerned.”

Dallas’ eyes shine with unshed tears. “I should stay away from you. We all should.”

My chest tightens. “What are you saying, Dallas?”

She sits up, brings her knees up to her chest, and rests an arm across them. “I didn’t always used to be like this.” She wipes tears from her lashes. “Before my family died…”

I hate that I made her cry. “It’s okay. You don’t have to explain.”

Dallas stares at something to the side, a faraway look in her eyes. “I used to be a lot like you. Well—I was never a cheerleader.” She chuckles. “But I was popular. My brother was the captain of the basketball team. It had its perks being his little sister.” She rests her chin on her knees. “You wouldn’t have had to worry about being seen with me back then.”

Her words break my heart. I hate seeing her so unsure and broken. “I’m not ashamed of you, Dallas.” I need her to believe me. “We’re months away from graduating. All this superficial stuff will be behind us then. No one will care who my dad is or that I used to be a cheerleader in high school. I hate this prison I’m in. I never asked to be put on this pedestal. I don’t even understand how it happened.”

Dallas smiles. “I do, Em. You’re beautiful and kind to everyone. You come from one of the wealthiest families in town. You have the world at your feet. Everyone knows that. You know what it’s like—the higher up you are, the harder you fall. Fuck, look at me.”

She pauses, wiping her nose. “I had fucking everything. I have so many memories of my brother and me doing silly shit that used to drive my mom up the wall.” She smiles to herself. “We had this thing where we would wake each other up in the morning in the craziest of ways possible. One morning, Aaron woke me up by playing a bongo dressed as the school team’s mascot.” She laughs at the memory, and I do too.

“Then the fire happened, and I was sent to live with my estranged uncle. We know how that went.” She picks at the bedspread. “And now I live with Ben. I have nothing, Em. No future. I’m not going places like you.”

“Stop!” I whisper. “Can’t you see how loved you are? I started watching you after that night at the party. I was curious. Do you know what I saw? True friendships! The dynamics are unconventional to the outside world, but who cares? Your friends would do anything for you.

That’s more than I can say about my own friends. Hailey is on my side, and I know Rick would support me too through thick and thin, but Jamie and the others? They would drop me like that.” I click my fingers for effect. “You’ve lost a lot Dallas, but you’re surrounded by good people. What I saw when I looked at you guys made me jealous. I used to sit at my lunch table and fantasize about being a part of your group.”

I shuffle down on the bed and lie back on my soft pillow. “I’m more myself with you guys than I’ve ever allowed myself to be. I like who I am when I’m with you.” I meet her blue eyes. “I likeyou.”

Dallas remains silent for a while. I hold my breath, worried I said too much.

“I like you too, Emily,” she whispers.

I blush. “I like you a lot.”

“You like Ben too.”

It’s not a question.

“I do…” I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Is that bad? Are you upset?”

She waves me off. “No, girl, I’m not upset. Ben’s one of my best friends. We’ll make it work.”

“Really?” I stare at her in disbelief. I don’t want to have to choose between them. Maybe I’m greedy, but I haven’t felt this way before.

She smiles softly. We fall silent, both deep in our own thoughts.

“Where is he tonight anyway?” I ask.

“He’s out with the guys. I wanted to talk to you, so I stayed behind.”

I don’t hide my smile.

“Touch yourself. Let me watch.”

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. I like where this is going. “Tell me what you want, Dallas.”

She sucks her lips between her teeth and smirks. “Trail your hand down slowly and squeeze your breast.”

---