Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
When I fail to respond, a slender arm gets looped through mine. “How are you doing, girl?” She makes a frowny face as her voice fills with faux sympathy. “Seems like you’ve had a rough morning.”
I paste a plastic smile in place and shrug. “Nope, everything’s fine.”
Even though she’s being all sweet and nice, I don’t trust her as far as I can throw her. Everything with the popular blonde is pretense.
I give her a sidelong glance and watch her sculpted brows rise. “Really? That’s not what I heard. Rumor has it that Jasper dumped you Saturday night because he found out you were screwing Austin behind his back.” She gives me a speculative look.
Without going into detail, I say, “If you want me to confirm that we’re no longer together, it’s true.”
“Wow. I didn’t think you had it in you to be such a ho. Congrats.”
When my brows jerk together, she laughs. “Oh, don’t take offense. We all know there’s a double standard. No one even bats an eye when these guys fuck around or get blowies from other girls. But the moment we step out, we’re the cheats.” She shrugs. “So…tell me about Austin. I’m dying to hear all the juicy details.”
“We’re not together.”
“Hmmm. Seems like you got the raw end of the deal. Lost your boyfriend and side piece at the same time. I’m sure if you beg Jasper, he’ll consider taking you back.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“Seriously? You don’t want to get with him again?”
“Nope.”
“No one would blame you for crawling back on your hands and knees.” Her voice drops several octaves as she gives me a penetrating look as if capable of hypnotizing me with her baby blues. “So what are you going to do now?”
I shrug.
Just get through the day the best I can.
And then tomorrow, I’ll get through that one as well.
“Just remember that if you ever need a shoulder to cry on, I’m here for you.”
I almost stumble over my feet at the comment. There’s no way I’d tell her anything of a personal nature, because I know damn well that she’d use it against me. Whatever juicy tidbit I confided would be spread through the halls of HP by the end of fifth hour.
I give her another tight smile as the drone of voices increases and we reach the spacious dining hall. “Thanks, I appreciate the offer.”
Pursing her shiny lips, she pats my arm. “You’re being so brave about this whole thing. Especially since you’ve practically committed social suicide and you’re basically a pariah.”
Better to be an outcast than in a relationship with Jasper.
As we step inside the double story space, Sloane slips her arm free. “Well, it was super nice chatting with you. The girls and I are going to head to our usual table. I’d ask you to join us but,” she shoots me another sad face, “it would be awkward, considering that we’re sitting with your ex.”
“No worries. I’ll be fine.”
“Of course you will, sweetie.” She turns to her group of minions who trail after us. “Come on, girls. Lunch awaits.”
Most send pitying looks my way from beneath mascara-laden lashes as they flip their extensions on their way past.
Aubrey is the only one who stops before pointing to the far end of the room. “If you’re looking for a place to eat, there’s a table over there in no-man’s land. I’m sure the rejects won’t mind you joining them.”
With a wave of her two-inch acrylic nails, she skips away, leaving me to stand alone in a crowd of hundreds. As my gaze roves over the sea of unfriendly faces, I regret my decision not to hide in the photography studio. It’s tempting to slowly back out of the room before turning tail and running. Except...that would make everything worse. These people are like rogue sharks. As soon as they smell a drop of blood in the water, there’ll be a feeding frenzy. There’s no other choice but to face it head on. Even if I have to do it on my own.
I should be used to this feeling of isolation.
But the truth is that it never gets easier.
A burst of laughter rings out and my gaze automatically slides toward the sound. Slone is perched on Jasper’s lap with her arms locked around his neck as he grins. She leans closer, whispering something in his ear before they both turn and glance at me.
Heat floods my face as I force my feet into movement.
Heads swivel, gazes locking on me with each table I walk by. The babble of voices follows, growing stronger with each step I take. The snippets of conversation I catch make it difficult to hold my head up high.
By the time I reach the table on the outer edge, I wish the floor would open up and swallow me whole. This is so much worse than I anticipated. Last night, as I laid awake in bed, I tried to tell myself that Saturday night wouldn’t be a hot topic of conversation.