Dear Love, I Hate You (Easton High)

“I said move!” I bump my shoulder against his hard chest.

He doesn’t waver an inch.“You’re not fucking leaving until we talk!”

“What’s there to talk about?” I shriek. “You were right. It was always going to end this way. With you sucking face with a cheerleader while I—”

“I thought she was you.”

I backtrack, needing to put some space between us.

“You… what?” I choke.

“It’s true.” He steps closer. “You have to believe me, Vee. First thing I did when she walked in was kiss her—no, fuck that, first thing I did when she walked in was kiss you.”

My stomach churns at the thought of Xavier gripping my face and kissing me instead of her, slow and hard, liberating us from weeks of built-up tension.

My phone chimes with two texts from Dia.

Dia: Did Lacey get to you? She found your keys. Went up to Finn’s room to give them back to you.

Dia: Never mind, I just talked to her. She said she didn’t find you. I’ve got your keys. Text me before you leave xo

Holy shit.

Is that why Lacey wound up in Finn’s bedro

om? To give me back my keys? Axel kept getting in my way, trying to set me up with one of his friends, which would have allowed Lacey to get there before me.

Xavier’s telling the truth, isn’t he?

“Say that was even two percent truth, it doesn’t change the fact that you didn’t notice she wasn’t m…” I stop myself. That’s not fair. He couldn’t have known she wasn’t me. He’d never seen me before, but I can’t stomach the thought of him confusing “Love” with Lacey fucking Mattson.

Does he not know me at all?

After all our texts?

All our confessions?

“Oh, and let’s not forget the fact that you were, how did he put it—” I make air quotes with my fingers. “—planning to score?”

Guilt sweeps across Xavier’s face, and disappointment claws at whatever’s left of that thing in my chest. Finn wasn’t lying.

Xav cringes. “Who told you that?”

“Does it matter?”

“Aveena, who the fuck is it?” he hounds.

“I heard Finn talking to Theo.”

Please tell me I’m wrong, I silently beg, tell me Love was more than a conquest. More than a shiny trophy to add to your shelf.

His silence is my cue.

“Copy that.” I nod and set out toward the door, but his hand flies out to catch my wrist.

“Vee, wait. Just… let me explain.”

“Save your explanation for someone who gives a shit.” I retrieve my wrist. “Oh, I know. Why don’t you try Brie? She’s the one you’re fucking and leading on, isn’t she?”