Page 113 of The Design of Goodbye
“He is honest with me.”
“He’s going to break your heart,” said Jules, like she really believed it, “and you won’t have us to come back to.”
“That’s fine.” I remembered all the horrible things she’d done to me during our friendship and knew—no matter what happened to Liam and I—my friendship with Jules was over.
“You were a shitty friend, anyway.” Jules’s voice wobbled. “I was only friends with you because I felt sorry for you.”
She stormed away, Claire following at her heels. I considered yelling and hurtling every mean thing I’d ever wanted to say to them, but I didn’t.
I refused to become like them.
“Are you going to break my heart?” I asked Liam.
He kissed the top of my head. “Not if I can help it.”
chapter thirty-eight
Late Thursday night, I finishedStarlight.
I stood in front of my full-length mirror for what felt like the hundredth time. The skirt was perfect—it combined both 1860s Victorian era and modern elements, exactly how my mom had envisioned. The stars cascaded perfectly over the deep purple lace overskirt and my shoulders. The fitted blouse fit me like a glove.
But something wasn’t right.
I’d studied my mom’s sketch so many times, the corners bent, the paper smudged. I was certain I’d missed something. But I’d done everything right—everything matched exactly.
What was wrong?
I collapsed onto my bed, proud but discouraged. My skirt covered Thimble, who flailed underneath the fabric like he was being attacked. Once free, he ran toward my bathroom door and let out a pitiful meow when he couldn’t get in.
“I’ll fill the sink up tomorrow, okay?” He meowed again, louder this time. “It’s late.”
I glanced at my phone, curious at how late it was. My eyes widened when I registered the time. Two-thirty in themorning? School started in five hours. I had a math quiz tomorrow, and I’d fail if I didn’t get some sleep.
A knock sounded on my window. I wrapped myself in a blanket and opened my curtains. Liam was crouching in my window well. I hadn’t been expecting him, but it was an excellent surprise.
“Hi,” he said when I opened my window. “Mind if I stay here tonight?”
No matter how many times I’d told him he could always spend the night, he asked anyway. “Of course not.”
He expertly jumped through my window and then walked over and kissed me. “I missed you,” he said.
“I missed you, too. How was work?”
“I fell asleep.”
I wasn’t surprised. His dad had followed through with his threat, and Liam had been working night shifts at Gary’s all week in addition to his shifts at The Fresh Market. Other than dark bags under his eyes and the frequent yawn, he hadn’t seemed that affected with his temporary schedule. Until today, when he’d napped during lunch because he was having a hard time staying awake during his classes. The twenty-minute nap hadn’t helped. In fact, it’d only made him sleepier. When he’d walked me to class, still half-asleep, I’d been truly worried about him for the first time all week.
“Was your dad there?”
“Yeah.” He grimaced. “He caught me.”
I frantically checked him over. “Did he do anything?”
He shook his head. “Another employee was there, so all he did was yell. But I didn’t want to go to my house after work.”
“I hate how much you’re working. It’s not fair.”
He shrugged. “I’ll be okay.”
