Page 32 of The Design of Goodbye
“I feel sick,” I lied. “I’m going home.”
Jules stopped laughing and looked at me. “Are you seriously upset that we thought it was funny?”
If I admitted I was upset, I had no idea how she’d react. Obviously, I had no idea how she’d react to anything anymore. “I really don’t feel well.”
Jules pouted. “But I’m not ready to leave.”
“We can find someone to drive you,” said Claire, grabbing Jules’s arm. “Stay.”
Jules nodded, causing one of her seashell barrettes to fall out of her hair. “Feel better, I guess.”
Jules didn’t call to me as I walked away, and I tried not to be hurt. The last thing I wanted to do was stay, but I wanted her to care I was leaving.
When I got home, I tore off my costume and threw it in the trash. Once in bed, Thimble curled his warm body next to mine. I pressed my face against his soft fur, trying not to cry as I desperately wished things were how they used to be but knowing everything had changed.
chapter thirteen
On Monday, Tanner and Alex were back to sitting at our lunch table. Jules was wearing Tanner’s letterman jacket and practically straddling his lap. I nervously sat down because I hadn’t talked to Jules since the party and wasn’t sure Iwas welcome.
“Hi,” I said. “You guys back together?”
I hadn’t needed to worry about the state of our friendship because Jules was happier than ever.
“Madison, Imissedyou.” She untangled herself from Tanner and adjusted the bunny-ear headband she was wearing in honor of it being officially Halloween. “After you left the party, Tanner and I got back together.Exclusively.”
“It was so romantic,” chimed in Claire. She was wearing the same headband as Jules. It hurt they hadn’t included me—again—and I was left wearing the same cat-ear headband from last year. Claire added, “You missed out.”
I was sure I did.
“That’s great.” I attempted my best fake grin.
“Yeah,” said Jules. “Tanner doesn’t think I’m boring anymore. Right, babe?” She licked her lips, and his gaze followed her tongue.
“Definitely not.” He took a bite of his hamburger, and a glob of ketchup fell onto the table. “She gets me, you know? And she’s hilarious.”
“Really?” I said. My heart warmed as I pulled out a ghost-shaped cookie my dad had snuck into my lunch. “What did she—”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Jules. “What matters is Tanner and I are together again.”
“Totally,” agreed Claire. “It’s not even that funny. We should probably not even—”
“I want to know,” I pressed.
“She wants to know,” said Tanner. “Let me tell her.”
Jules chewed her thumbnail. “It should be between us, babe. Don’t you think?”
Alex laughed. “Not possible.” He wasn’t wearing a baseball hat today, so his hair covered his eyes. “Half the people at the party heard.”
“He’s right,” said Tanner. He leaned forward, mirth shining in his eyes. “Jules saw Roo running out of the library Saturday, terrified. It’s like he’s scared of books or something.”
Tanner’s laugh grated on my ears. I glared at Jules, and she cowered.
“How funny,” I said unconvincingly. “I need a water. Jules, come with me.”
I pulled her far enough away from the table so our friends couldn’t overhear our conversation. “What the hell is your problem?” I spat. “What I told you and Claire about Liam was a secret.”
She rolled her eyes. I had the urge to push her and watch her stumble. “Isn’t it obvious?” she said. “All I had to do was tell Tanner the story, and we were back together just like”—she snapped her fingers—“that.”
