Page 69 of The Bad Boyfriend Curse
“I think it’s because of Noah,” Sadie says. “That song your friend remixed went viral on TikTok. One of the commenters said they knew him, and knew that a concert promoter had gotten Noah a gig on the emerging-artist stage at the Summer Glow Festival in Montreal. Kaitlyn is jealous.”
My eyes widen. “Noahwas the one scouted at Donut Den?” It makes sense, but… why didn’t he tell me? I remember him saying that he was supposed to go to that festival too—but he couldn’t because of community service. “How viral did the video go?”
“It’s huge,” Sadie says. “It’s been all over social media this weekend. If Kaitlyn and her father hadn’t written this piece, I guarantee there would have been an article aboutNoahhere instead. Cherrybridge loves their local heroes. Unless they’re…”
“Criminals and drug addicts,” I say.
She winces. “Kaitlyn’s dad probably pulled some stringsto get this piece in before anything about Noah. I told Kaitlyn our friendship is over, but…”
“But this is already in print,” Mom says softly. “Or at least on this website.”
“Has Noah seen this?” My voice cracks. This is going towreckhim.
Mom puts her hand on my back and rubs, like she’s forgotten that we’re not talking. I shake her hand away from me. I don’t need her empty gesture of comfort right now.
Mom exhales. “How much of this is true?” she asks me.
“None of it. Noah’s not a drug addict. I told you, he doesn’t even drink. He’s a straight A student, and the only time he was in trouble with the police was when he was charged with trespassing because he cut through the LeClair grounds on his way home one day and they wanted to make anexampleof him.”
Mom looks shocked. I guess Jason didn’t tell her? I decide to go for broke and tell her everything, since she refuses to trust me anyway. “And yeah, at first Noah and Iwereonlypretendingto date to make you mad. I thought you’d send me away from him, because that’s what people in this family do to bad girls. And Noah agreed to it to get back at Jason for what he did to Noah’s father.”
“What are you talking about? What did Jason—”
“Ask your husband. There’s a lot you don’t know about the man you married. So yeah, you once accused me of bringing Noah to that club party just to make you mad, and that’s exactly why I did it. But then we became friends, and started really dating on the day of the LeClair picnic. I lied to you about us being together, and then about us not being together.” I liftmy chin. If she’s determined to think I’m a disgrace, then I might as well confirm it.
For the first time since we started fighting this summer, I see tears in Mom’s eyes. I finally managed to crack through her anger to get at a different emotion. She looks… heartbroken. Defeated.
And to be honest, it doesn’t feel nearly as good as I thought it would. I feel like complete crap. I really did ruin her life. And she ruined mine.
Mom wipes her eyes, not saying a word, then takes her apron off. After turning off the stove, she opens a kitchen drawer and takes out my phone. She places it on the counter.
“I can’t do this anymore,” she says quietly. “You win, Meera. I’m… I’m not fighting you any longer. If you would go to those lengths just to get away from me, then…” She exhales. “I’m sorry I failed you.” There are tears on her cheeks. She puts her shoes on and leaves the house without saying another word.
I close my eyes as my heartbeat fills my ears. I want to sob, let out a wail about how unfair all of this is. But there’s no point.
“Is she…,” Sadie starts. “Is she okay?”
I open my eyes and shrug. “I don’t know. She hasn’t spoken to me in two days. I assume she’s running to Jason to tell him about this article. Do you know if he saw it?”
“Probably. My mother’s the one who showed it to me, and she probably told my dad.”
I take my phone from the counter. I open my texts and see a bunch from Noah, Keeley, and Adanna from Friday night—before they knew Mom took my phone. I even see the texts and calls from Mom that I missed because Noah and I were making out on the couch that night.
I’m suddenly so nauseous. I can call Noah now. I have my phone.
But should I? He didn’t respond to any of Sadie’s texts. And I have no idea if he saw this article.
I take a deep breath and call him. He picks up on the first ring.
“Noah, it’s me. I got my phone back. Did you—”
“Meera, I can’t really talk to you right now.” He sounds wooden. Mad. Not like my Noah at all.
“I wanted to say sorry. And to warn you. There’s this op-ed—”
“I read it. And so did my father.”
I cringe. “I had no idea that was happening. Kaitlyn hates you because—”
