I need to know how she took the picture, where she took it. I need to know everything before I bring it up to Will’s attention. There has to be a good explanation for this. This can’t be true. There’s no way that Will cheated.
Maybe I’m dumb.
What else do you do in a motel room?
Kass, stop.
Is that where he ran off to every night he wouldn’t stay with me? To a motel room? Anxiety burns within me. I’m such a mess I have to stop and gather a breath to prevent my emotions from rolling down my cheeks.
I spot the back of Zoey’s head in the distance. She hasn’t noticed me yet, emptying her locker into her bag.
“What the hell?” I blurt, holding my phone up to her face.
“Oh, hey, Kass. Yeah, sorry about that. Truth hurts, doesn’t it?” She slams her locker shut, heading for the exit.
If she thinks she’s leaving, she’s got another thing coming.
“Where did you get that? You’re going to tell me everything. Now.”
She huffs a laugh. “And why on earth would I do that?”
“Gee, I don’t know. Maybe because you don’t want me to tell Sean about what really happened on your birthday.”
Fear flashes in her gaze. “You do that and Kendrick finds out all about you dating his best bro behind his back.”
It hits me.
She shouldn’t know this. I didn’t tell her that we’re officially dating. That would require communication, and I’ve completely shut her out of my life.
“How do you know about that? I never told y—”
“You know, you should really be more careful which boy you lead on. Luke Jenson is quite the blabbermouth.”
Ah. Luke was there the night Will showed up at my house to tell me he wanted to be with me. Luke left before we got to the—ahem—good part, but Will’s intentions were clear as day. I’m guessing he put the pieces together afterward, and Will’s poorly concealed rage at Luke setting me up with another guy must’ve confirmed any suspicions he had.
“Why haven’t you told Kendrick?” I ask.
That’s Zoey. She enjoys making others suffer. I’ve had the proof of that during our countless years of friendship. I would’ve expected her to tell Kendrick the truth about me and Will the second we stopped being friends, but… she didn’t.
Why?
“And spare you the fear of getting caught? Nah. Luke and I thought it’d be better to sit back and watch you kill yourselves trying to keep it a secret.” She bounds out of the school.
I follow as Zoey saunters toward Callie’s running car parked out front. Her replacement best friend sits inside, waiting for her.
“Zoey!” I snap, and she stops dead in her tracks. “Look, I get it, you hate me, but we didn’t always hate each other. We used to be best friends, remember? If you ever cared about me at all, you’ll tell me about the picture… Please.”
She considers her options for a long, unbearable moment, then swivels around.
“Fine. Callie’s new fuck buddy works at the gas station across the street from some shitty motel. She saw Will sneaking into a room when she stopped by a while back and snapped a picture. Her boy toy said he’s been going into room thirty-five every night at around nine for days now.”
My heart tightens.
Nine is usually when he comes up with an excuse and leaves.
Do I even know this boy?
“Thanks.”
She doesn’t respond, resuming to Callie’s car. I think back to Will’s sketchy behavior when I questioned him about his life. How he avoids any conversation regarding his family—his mom. God, is she dead? Will said we can’t hang out tonight because he has to train.
But what if… that’s bullshit?
Maybe if I just went and checked.
The words ooze out of my mouth before Zoey climbs inside Callie’s car.
“Wait.”
She stops, holding the door open.
“Can you text me the address?”
Sitting in my mom’s car with the ultimate creeper shades on, I watch jack shit happen and tap my foot. Been doing it for over an hour now. I showed up here shortly before nine, expecting to see Will sneak into room thirty-five.
No one.
He’s nowhere to be found.
And the weirdest part? I saw a light come on through the room window. At first, I thought he’d gotten there early, but his car isn’t in the lot. I didn’t want to let the thought in—not even for a second—but I have to be realistic. There’s someone in that room. Maybe even a girl.
Waiting for Will with her legs open.
Jesus, I hate that I’m here right now. I hate that instead of confronting him about the picture like a mature, well-balanced girlfriend, I’m holed up in a car, surveilling some shabby motel.
Headlights flash in the distance.
A car pulls into the lot.
I duck, slouching into my mom’s driver seat—I took her car when she passed out early tonight. Mine is still at the shop.
My breath threatens to leave me.
It’s him.
Sticking my head out an inch, I watch as he parks in the spot by the motel room and hurries out of the car, his gym bag drooping off his arm. He really did train tonight. At least, that wasn’t a lie.
He strides to the door, plucking a key out of his pocket. As though he knows he’s being watched, he slows down, analyzing his surroundings. I yelp, dipping once more. By the time I look again, he’s gone inside.
I tell myself to drive home and confront him later. To forget all about Zoey’s texts, but I can’t help doubting everything I thought I knew. It took me ages to get this guy to even consider being in a relationship.
Maybe he just couldn’t take it.
Reverted back to his old ways.
I jerk in surprise when my phone chimes with a text.
Willy Wonka: I miss you so fucking much it should be illegal.
Will.
Argh. A mix of unwanted emotions wash over me. He misses me, he says. Then why is he lying?
Why is he keeping things from me?
I text back.
Kass: Remind me again why you can’t come over
