Page 97 of Taking Sides

A chuckle loosens in my chest, and I shake my head. “How are we even friends?”

TWENTY-FIVE

“I’m so glad it’s Friday,” Sloane says over lunch. We’re on cafeteria duty, which basically just means we need to be present to discourage and intercept any devious behavior.

“Me too,” I agree, though my weekend plans include being less naked than I’d like with Conrad going out of town.

“Are we still on for our Saturday morning walk tomorrow or has the Montana winter air scared you off?” She smirks slightly as she eyes my sweater and the scarf I wore to school and still haven’t taken off.

I huddle into myself as a shiver works through my body at just the thought of the temperature outside.

“I ordered the fleece-lined leggings you suggested, so hopefully I’ll survive.” I lift my right hand to show her my fingers are crossed. “I’m free in the afternoon too if you want to make a day of it and grab tea or something.”

“Yeah.” Her lips curve in a small, friendly smile. “That sounds nice.”

“Great.” I take a bite of the school pizza and make a face.

“I told you the salad was a safer choice.” She lifts a forkful of lettuce and shredded cabbage to her mouth.

“I should have listened.” I push my tray to the center of the table. How do you screw up pizza?

“Is Conrad out of town this weekend?” she asks.

“Am I that obvious?”

She laughs. “I don’t mind. If I had a boyfriend, I might also be tempted to blow off our walks and tea dates.”

I gasp in mock outrage.

Her smile pulls higher. “Where are they playing?”

“They aren’t. He’s in Washington for a retirement ceremony for his high school coach.”

“Fun,” she says in a tone that suggest she thinks otherwise.

“He hated high school, so doubtful. But he really liked his coach and wanted to be there.”

“Why did he hate high school?”

“He got bullied a lot,” I say, immediately feeling angry all over again on his behalf.

I’m not oblivious to it happening at Moonshot High nor was I when I was in high school myself, but it’s hard to stomach the thought of Conrad being treated so poorly that the only reason he’s going back is for his coach.

“Do you keep in touch with friends from high school?” I ask her.

“No.” She shakes her head too quickly. “You?”

“I did when I was still in Houston but not really since I left.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t go with him.”

“To Washington?”

“Yeah. I know if I had to go back, I’d want my super-hot boyfriend with me so I could show him off to all the assholes who were mean to me.”

“Have you seen Conrad?” I ask with a laugh. “I am not the hot one in the relationship.”

Sloane laughs good-naturedly, then her earlier words register.