HALLE

THE ENTIRE ROOM ERUPTS INTO cheers when the Titans clinch the win in the last ten seconds.

I’ve been going to hockey games for years, but there’s nothing like seeing this kind of result, knowing how relieved Henry will be. Aurora is jumping up and down, too, and honestly you’d think we’d personally done something.

Henry told me they’d win if I wore the present he’d gotten me—the present being his jersey. I always feel like I’m comparing, but having fun today with Aurora really feels so diIerent from when I sat with other girlfriends at Will’s games.

We’ve been chatting—okay, borderline debating about which is the better sport—with the guys sitting next to us all game. I have a football family because of Grayson, Aurora’s is obviously motorsport, and the guy who’s name I never quite caught has a brother who’s a baseball player. Thankfully we had hockey to unite us, and as silly as it was, it was fun to interact with new people and not stress about it.

As we pick up our cups from the Roor and grab our purses to leave, the nameless guy stops me. “Hey, would I be able to get your number? Kinda wanna debate the whole football-versus-baseball thing a bit more. You seem cool.”

I’m so confused. I look to Aurora, who just gives me a look that says, well? “Oh, sorry. Uh, um. No? Sorry, that’s rude. I just kinda—” I have no idea

where I’m going with this.

“She’s pining for someone else,” Aurora says with a smile, putting me out of this particular misery, but very 1rmly into another one.

“Got it,” he says. “Was good to meet y’all.” “Really?” I say when he’s out of earshot.

Aurora shrugs. “Tell me you wanted to give him your number, and then I’ll apologize.”

I huI. “Touché.”

As soon as I reach my car, I pull out my phone to text Henry.

HENRY TURNER

Still campaigning for you to switch to carnival games, but I guess that was a pretty spectacular win.

Thanks Cap Where are you?

Cami is sick. I’m taking her a care package.

Where was my care package when I was sick?

I gave you dim sum and didn’t complain when you

threw it all up.

Fair.

Can I make it up to you later?

Yup. I’ll text you when I’m leaving Cami’s.

The massive duck has to go in a different room.

Quack Efron lives there and you don’t.

I hate Bobby so, so much. Hurry. I miss Joy.

There are women in Maple Hills who would give an organ to have Henry talk about them the way he talks about my cat.

After a quick visit to the grocery store, I pull into the parking lot of Cami’s building as Will’s name Rashes up on my caller ID. I nearly crash my car into one of the bushes lining the concrete. After the initial shock subsides, it’s the easiest rejection of my life. He probably played today, too, and he probably saw my story from the game. I have zero desire to argue with someone who only wants

to speak to me when he’s—jealous? I don’t even know—calling to try to make me feel bad about something.

By the time I reach Cami’s front door, I’ve talked myself in and out of calling him back. In because what if something has happened to him or his family, then out, because my mom isn’t also calling me. In because what if he wants to 1x our friendship, then out, because if that was the case he’d start by text.

Cami’s door opens and she looks like a deer in headlights. Her red hair is braided over her shoulder and she’s wearing her pajamas. There’s been something oI about her recently at work and I haven’t been able to put my 1nger on why. She’s quieter, I think. Her normal con1dent demeanor almost feels like it’s been muted.

My biggest sign that something is up with her is that she’s started being on time for work. She’s never on time for anything. And when a guest yelled at her, she didn’t argue back even a little bit. I hold up the paper bag. “I brought you chicken noodle soup and some other healthy-looking things.”

“Oh, Halle,” she says gently. “Come in and sit down.”

I know her roommates are all out because I was just with them, and it was Ava who told me she was sick. Ava agreed with me that she doesn’t seem herself recently, but when I asked if she knew why, she changed the subject. I think there’s a small part of me that’s worried I’ve done something and nobody wants to tell me.

“How are you feeling?” I ask, taking a spot on the couch.

She sits across from me and pulls her legs up against her chest, hugging them. “I’ve been better. Thank you for bringing me food.”

“Have I done something to upset you?” I ask. I hate how desperate it sounds as it leaves my lips. I hate how desperate it makes me feel. “I want to apologize if I have.”

There’s a visible change to shock on Cami’s face. “What? No, oh my God. Of course you haven’t done something to upset me.”

“I can take it if I have. I’m kind of inexperienced in the whole friend department, as you know. And, well, I just don’t want to be that friend that doesn’t apologize when they need to apologize.”

“Halle, you have nothing to apologize for. It’s me. It’s my head. It’s all fucked up. I, ugh.” She wipes her hands against her face. “Someone put something in my drink at the Take Back December gig, and, no, no, don’t look panicked, nothing happened. Poppy was spiked, too, and Ava realized something was up immediately and took us to the ER. We were lucky.”

“There’s nothing lucky about having your drink spiked. I’m so, so sorry that happened to you. I swear I didn’t know or I wouldn’t have come here and made it about me.”

“You haven’t! And I didn’t want anyone to know because, well, I’ve been roo1ed before. Senior year of high school. I wasn’t as lucky that time,” she says, and my stomach sinks. “I really don’t want to talk about it if I’m being honest. It’s just shaken me a little and I’ll get through it. I just don’t want you thinking you’ve done something, Hals. You haven’t. I just need to be by myself to process and then I’ll be back to normal, I swear. I’m going to skip tomorrow, though. I don’t think a Halloween party is where I should be with the way I’m feeling, but I swear I’ll be back to normal soon.”

There’s a million diIerent emotions I’m experiencing 1nding out something like this happened. Not one of them is bigger than rage for my friend. “You don’t need to be back to normal; I just want you to be okay. Is there anything I can do to help you? I can hang out with you tomorrow night so you’re not alone.”

She shakes her head. “I really do process better alone, but thank you. I’m a good compartmentalizer.”

“Is that a good or bad thing?”

She laughs, but I still see the pain in her eyes. “I dunno, but we’ll 1nd out.” “Do you want to hang out on Sunday? We could go for breakfast or go

shopping, maybe? I hear what you’re saying about processing better alone, I really do, but I also feel like you shouldn’t do this alone, and I know your best friends don’t live around here anymore, and I’m not them but—” I’m rambling. I’m rambling so bad. She lived with Summer and Briar for four years before they graduated, and I don’t want her to think I think I’m equal to that level of trust and friendship. “I just feel like—”

“Halle,” she says, laughing as she interrupts me. “Breakfast would be fun. Blaise’s diner? What time is too early for you if you’re going to The Honeypot? I sleep through my alarm when I’m hung-over.”

“Anytime works for me. I’m not going to get drunk.” She doesn’t gasp in horror or do anything other than look through the grocery bag I gave her, pulling out snacks. “I’ve learned I’m a really anxious and emotional hungover person. Hopefully I won’t be boring and people will still want to hang out with me.”

She stops rummaging through the bag and looks at me. “Summer didn’t get drunk for the exact same reason. Me and Briar actually convinced her to stop because we couldn’t deal with her thinking the world was going to end every time she had more than two glasses of wine. It doesn’t make you boring.”

“I know that logically. Like, seriously, I know I’m being ridiculous and peer pressure should not be something I’m thinking about when I’m a literal adult. But—”

“But you’re worried that if you don’t want to do what everyone else does, that they won’t invite you and you’ll be alone,” she says, plucking the words from my head. “I get it. That ex and his friends really did a number on your self- worth, huh?”

Oh. That was an unexpected twist. “I guess. I don’t know, I haven’t really thought of it like that. The self-worth thing: they de1nitely thought I was boring when I look back.”

“Just because they didn’t appreciate how great you are to be around doesn’t mean the rest of us don’t. Also, soda is statistically less roo1ed than alcoholic drinks, so, a win is a win.” The shock must show on my face because she frowns. “What? How else am I supposed to cope if I can’t make jokes about it?”

“Campbell, do you need a hug?” I ask.

“Oh God, you full-named me.” She’s laughing, but I watch as my words settle, and she nods. “Yeah. I sort of do.”

I move to the space beside her that isn’t covered in healthy snacks and wrap my arms around her shoulders. She hugs me back, and we sit there quietly until she speaks. “Your boobs are really comfy.”

“Thanks.”

“You should go before I fall asleep on you.”

“You sure? I can stay. I’ll just need to text Henry to let him know I’m busy.” “No, you’re good. Need to get back to my compartmentalizing anyway.

Breakfast at ten?”

“Yup. See you there.”

I’M STILL THINKING ABOUT CAMI and the other people who had their lives impacted in the worst way that night as I pull up outside my house.

Henry is sitting on my porch, and like a bad fucking omen, Will’s name comes up on my caller ID again. Henry stands with his sketch pad and overnight bag, mouthing, “Are you okay?” when I don’t get out of the car.

Reluctantly, I press answer, rationalizing I’d rather get it over with now instead of having him potentially call all night. “Hey. What’s up?”

“Since when does it take calling you six times to get you to answer?” “Since when do you call me?”

“Your sister is here,” he says Ratly.

That gets my attention. “What do you mean your sister is here? Where?

Where are you?”

“You sure forgot my schedule quickly, Hallebear,” he says, and if I could reach through the phone and shake him I would.

“What the hell would Gigi be doing in San Diego on a Friday night? Are you trying to stress me out on purpose or are you just that oblivious?”

“I wouldn’t call me oblivious when one of us knows why your sister is in the wrong state and one of us doesn’t.”

I hate him. I hate him so much. “Will, put Gigi on, please.”

“She doesn’t know I’m calling you. She speci1cally asked me not to call you, actually. She didn’t think you’d be chill about it, and I’m inclined to agree with her. She’s safe, though. I’m looking after her.”

“I feel like you think I won’t drive to San Diego and murder you, but I will.

Explain, now.”

He laughs, and the urge to get on the road increases dramatically. “I like you when you’re feisty. Gianna lied to your parents and said she was going on a

campus tour with a friend and friend’s parents. Clearly nobody followed up with anyone’s parents because the friend is older than Gi and can drive, and they were actually visiting the friend’s older sister. Gi and her friend had an argument about sneaking into a party and the friend said bye-bye. I got a call after my game

—won by the way, thanks for asking—from your sister, asking if you were here, then when I said no, she asked for a place to crash. And because I’m a good guy, I said yes.”

Gianna’s sudden interest in college tours now makes sense. “Where is she now?” I ask Will.

“She’s downstairs watching TV with the guys.”

“You left my baby sister alone with your roommates? For fuck’s sake, Will.

Go get her! My mom is going to Rip.”

“I think you should come down. We can work out a plan to return her and probably avoid telling your mom altogether.”

Henry’s looking really concerned by my front door as I look between him and my windshield. “Fine. I’ll leave in a second. Do not let her out of your sight. I mean it, Will. Make sure everyone knows she’s a minor. If I get there and they’re so much as looking in her direction, I will burn down your house.”

“Whoa. Jesus, Hals,” he says, and I’ve shocked myself as much as I’ve shocked him. I think I’m still reeling from 1nding out my friends had their drinks spiked, and I’ve never liked Will’s roommates. As not funny as this situation is, it’s funny to think that if Gigi had turned up on Henry’s doorstep, I’d have no worries about leaving her in the care of his friends. “I’ll make them all wear blindfolds if it makes you happy. Just get here.”

As soon as I climb out of my car Henry walks toward me. “I need to go to San Diego. It’s a long story, can I call you from the car to explain?”

“Do you need me to come?” Henry asks.

“No, no. It’s just little sister stuI, and you have a game tomorrow. Would you be able to feed Joy for me and hang out with her for a little while? If you can’t, I can ask Mrs. Astor to take her until I’m back.”

“Cat duty. Got it,” he says. His hands cup my neck and I instinctively gravitate toward him, his lips press against the crown of my head. I want him to

do it a million more times. “Call me if you need me. I’m pretty sure Aurora can charter a helicopter or a jet.”

I still haven’t determined when Henry’s touch became soothing to me, but I sink into him, resting my cheek against his chest. “I’ll call you from the road, promise.”

THE ONLY POSITIVE THING ABOUT the drive to Will’s is getting a chance to catch up on my audiobook for book club. Literally the only positive.

When I called Henry to explain, his 1rst question was how could a kid leave the state and her parents have no idea she was lying to them. My mom and stepdad aren’t negligent, although I accept that this isn’t their greatest work. I would’ve never even considered doing this at Gigi’s age, and Grayson had no reason to sneak around because he got away with everything anyway. They’re just inexperienced.

Henry’s second point was she’s lucky she was at a college where she knew someone, but the alternative is not something I can stomach right now.

There’s an unmistakable unsettled feeling in my gut as I pull up in front of Will’s place. I’ve been here so many times, and yet a little time away and a new group of friends have made me realize how not unwelcome, but not welcome I was. The reception I receive when I go to Henry or Cami’s house compared to here is so diIerent. But I truly didn’t realize at the time.

Knocking on the door hard, I can hear laughter on the other side, and see Gigi and Will’s roommates when he 1nally opens the door. “Hi, baby,” he says, leaning in to kiss me. I don’t think he’s ever called me “baby” before.

I dodge him like he’s a bullet. “What are you doing?”

He pulls me closer to him by the waist, leaning in again slower this time to kiss my cheek. He lowers his voice. “You didn’t tell her we broke up. So pretend that you love me. Shouldn’t be hard for you.”

His face lingers near mine, but having him so close makes me uneasy. I can’t remember if I used to feel like this, or if I was just better at suppressing it.

I step around him and focus on Gigi on the couch looking guilty. “What the hell are you playing at?”

“It isn’t my fault,” she says immediately.

“It’s never your fault, Gianna. StuI just happens to you and you’re never to blame. That’s how this goes, right?”

Will’s roommates immediately stand and shu e toward the backyard. “You’re not my mom, Halle. You don’t get to talk to me like this. I’m not a

child!”

“I know I’m not your mom. Do you think I want to parent you? Do you think I want to cancel my Friday night plans to drive here to argue with you?”

“You love telling me what to do, so maybe this is your idea of a good time.” “Do you know how lucky you are that Will goes here? Do you have any idea

what happens to girls alone at night in this country? To them in the middle of the day? You’re irresponsible, Gianna, and actually, you are a child. You are literally a child, and the fact you think I’m going to put up with your attitude when you’re in the wrong freaking state is wild. How could you be so reckless with your safety? What if Will was at an away game? What would you have done?”

“Okay, okay…” Will says, stepping closer to me. He stands behind me and rubs his hands up and down my arms. “I think maybe you’re escalating things that don’t need to be escalated, Hals. Let’s not terrify the poor girl. She made a mistake and she’s sorry.”

“I already talked to my friend. She said she’ll drive me home with her in the morning like we planned, but she wants tonight to cool oI from our 1ght. You didn’t even need to come. It isn’t a big deal.”

I immediately spin to face Will. He holds up both hands defensively. “I don’t want an unsupervised minor in my house any more than you want her here. She didn’t tell me it was 1xed until you were already on the road, and I didn’t want to distract you when you were driving. Stop looking at me like you’re going to rip my head oI, Hals.”

“Oh no, you have to see your boyfriend unexpectedly,” Gigi mumbles, and it just shows how out of touch she is with how mad at her I am. “Poor Halle.”

“We broke up, Gi. Two months ago,” I say Ratly, getting a twisted sense of satisfaction at the way her eyes widen in shock. Not because it’s an enjoyable

topic, but just because her attitude sucks. “I had no desire to come here unexpectedly.”

For the 1rst time in the ten years Gianna has been my sister, she’s speechless. “I’m happy to see you even if you’re not happy to see me,” Will says as he

takes a seat beside Gigi on the couch. I purposely walk to a chair on the other side of the room. Out of all the people in the world I’m mad at, they’re the top two. “It’s like old times—the three of us hanging out together. You telling Halle she isn’t your mom. Halle blowing things out of proportion. It feels nostalgic. You two can take my bed and I’ll sleep in one of the other rooms.”

“We’re not staying,” I say quickly, looking at Will and not Gigi, whose attitude has de1nitely softened in the past thirty seconds. The arms folded de1antly across her chest are now tucked in as she picks at her nails on her lap. Her head is hanging lower, with lips pressed into a hard line.

“Halle, look. I know you’re mad and I get it. She’s like my little sister, too, but just stay. You’re not going to be able to get a hotel and you can’t drive back to Maple Hills to come back with her in the morning. So just stay. I miss hanging out with both of you.”

“Fine. Gi, go upstairs, please. I’ll be up in a minute,” I say to her, and thankfully she goes without any argument. I turn to Will. “Do you have something to wear to bed, please? I’m going to need to go straight to work in the morning, so I don’t want to sleep in my clothes.”

He’s looking at me like he just won, and I don’t know why. “A clean load of laundry just 1nished. I’ll get you a T-shirt. If you don’t want to sleep next to her, you can share with me.”

I ignore him. I don’t even have an answer for that. Pulling out my phone when he disappears in the direction of the utility room, I see Henry sent me a video. It starts on the TV with my baking show, and pans around to him, shirtless, with Joy asleep in the center of his chest.

HENRY TURNER

*Video message* We miss you.

How’s it going there?

I’m going to stay over with Gigi, then drive back in the

morning.

Wish I was with you guys. I called Mrs. Astor on my way here and said you’d drop Joy by when you leave.

Wish I’d come with you.

I’m not sure how well not turning up for your game would rank on the being a good leader scale.

Heading to bed. Good luck for tomorrow

Night, Cap. Lock your door.

“That the new guy?” Will says as he reappears holding a T-shirt with his college’s crest on it.

I lock my screen quickly, but it’s pointless given my background is also Henry, since I didn’t change it after Henry set it himself. I don’t think he saw more than a glimpse, so I quickly move on before he starts asking. “Thank you for calling me, Will. I appreciate it.”

“Why are you being so formal with me?” he asks. “You’ve never been this formal with me.”

Honestly, it’s because I don’t feel like I know him anymore. I’m uncomfortable and awkward around him, and I’m struggling to remember that at one time he was my closest friend. “I’m sorry. I’m just tired from the drive, and school and—”

“Yeah,” he says, interrupting me. “I want to talk more, Hals. I mean it. I don’t like this distance between us and there’s no reason for it. We should do something, just me and you, when we’re home for Thanksgiving. Dinner and a movie, maybe.”

I don’t know if it’s the surprise or the stress of the evening, but it takes four times as long for me to blink. “But I’m not going home for Thanksgiving… We agreed months ago.”

He shrugs nonchalantly, and for some reason, it enrages me. “I think we were being dramatic.”

Disbelief. Pure disbelief. “But I’ve already agreed to work… You couldn’t have mentioned that you thought we were being dramatic before now?”

“I didn’t realize you thought it was such a big deal. Just switch your shift with someone.”

“I can’t just switch my shift. Everyone has plans for the holidays. I haven’t even told my mom yet because I know she’s going to be mad. I can’t believe you’ve just changed your mind and didn’t tell me.”

“Baby…”

“Why are you calling me that?” I snap, standing from my seat. I take the T- shirt and head toward the stairs. “Thank you for helping with my sister. I’m going to bed.”

I ignore him calling after me as I climb the stairs, and when I enter his room with Gigi already in bed, I do lock the door like Henry said.

“I’m sorry,” Gigi says quietly. “I know.”

“I won’t be irresponsible again,” she says after I change and climb into the bed beside her.

“You will.”

“I’m sorry you and Will broke up.”

I turn oI the beside lamp and pull the covers over us both. “I’m not.”