Page 69 of The Exit Strategy

I don’t know if I want to groan at being the center of attention or laugh because Marley said smackdown as if she’s a wrestling announcer on a Vegas stage.

I do neither because now I’m calculating how to sneak out of here early tonight. A girl can only take so much kindness.

“They’re goingto come find you, you know that, right?”

My foot pauses on the curb. Freaking Cole. I was so close to escaping.

The night is warm, and the marsh smells like salt and something green and alive and I can almost, almost see my staircase from here.

“I didn’t want to be the center of attention anymore,” I admit.

“They have safety protocols for a reason.” Cole’s using a dad voice on me, and it creeps me the fuck out. “I’ll give it five minutes before they realize you’re not in the bathroom and come searching for you.”

“I’ll take my chances,” I say, continuing my short walk home.

He’s at my side, matching my stride a moment later.

“You’ll get through this, Junie. You’ve dealt with bullies before. You’re stronger than you think.”

I trip over my next step.Did he know?

I poke a thumb into my ribs because I think my lungs just gave up—it’s like they’re not even trying to work right now.

“What do you mean?” I hiss through clenched teeth.

“Who was that girl in eighth grade? The one who put you on the ‘unkissable list’?”

My lungs punch my thumb away and get back to work.

“And then the girl from your sophomore year who tried to ban you from the yearbook committee because her boyfriend had a crush on you.”

“He did not.” Trevor Masdon was way out of my league.

“Whatever you say, Junie.” Cole bumps my shoulder with his. “All I’m saying is, you’ve handled people like this before. Don’t allow Grace to be the one to break you.”

“Grace could never. That honor goes to Nat—” I snap my lips shut. “No—ah—one. That honor goes to no one because lies can’t hurt me anymore.”

Liar, liar, pants on fire.

The air shifts around us. Dense. Dark. Unfiltered as his stare flips from jovial best friend to pissed-off rhino in the span of a breath.

“Junie,” Cole growls. His face is hard, and there’s a fire inhis eyes I don’t know what to do with. “What were you about to say?”

The words are right there. Lodged in the place where I keep the things I’m too afraid to say out loud.

Natalie was the worst thing that ever happened to me. She made my life hell, and you dated her anyway. I never told you because she said you’d choose her—and you did, every day.

That’s what I want to say. The sentence that changes everything or confirms my biggest fear—that he knew what she did to me and still chose her.

“Juniper,” he snaps. He shutters his expression, but I’ve mastered the same one. I apply my mask while he stares at me.

I don’t think I win either way, and I’ve already lost too much.

“Never mind,” I say, jumping to the first illuminated stair to my apartment. “It’s old news. Bullies may always come for me, and I’ll always fight. It’s what I do, right?”

Two more stairs.

“Junie.” His tone is full of gravel. “Why does it feel like you’re lying to me?”