Twenty-three

Haley

Walking home under the pouring sky, Haley didn’t feel the tickle of the droplets landing on her face, or the rain soaking her clothes and sneaking down her spine. All she could feel was the echo of David’s words: I love you. The intensity of his stare as he said them, and the ghost of his lips on her forehead.

Okay, let’s calm down, Haley thought. It was perfectly normal not to remain indifferent when someone declared his undying love in the most romantic rain shower ever. But David wasn’t just anyone, he was David. He was the boy in the mask, the one who’d saved her at her darkest moment.

Haley vowed to avoid him for a while. She didn’t have the mental ease to deal with his—or her—feelings right now. Luckily, their casual little ritual of spontaneous Saturday meetings at the library had no more reason to exist. Summer School was over, and there were no more excuses—need, it had very much been a practical need—for Haley to go to the library.

True to expectations, finals week kept Haley busy. Between last-minute revision sessions, the amount of work she had to recoup from the four days she’d spent in Buffalo, and the exams themselves, her mind didn’t have much time left to dwell on boys telling her they loved her in the rain.

On the first Friday in August, Haley came home from her last exam feeling positively drained. And she wasn’t done yet; she still had to pack her bag, as she was leaving for Buffalo the following day. But all she wanted to do was curl up under the blankets—maybe stealing Blue from Alice again—and sleep.

Her roommates had different plans. They’d both been waiting for her to get home, and ambushed her as she entered the apartment, shouting, “Happy birthday!” and blowing into a pair of ridiculous party blowers that made a hideous noise.

Oh, no. No. No. No. The last thing Haley wanted was a birthday party. She hoped the surprise ended at the blowers and chocolate-glaze cupcake with a single candle on top that Madison was now bringing forward.

Forcing a smile on her face, Haley said, “Thank you, guys. You didn’t have to.” She was about to blow the candle when Madison stopped her.

“Wait, you have to make a wish first.”

I wish my bag will magically pack itself, and to have an early night tonight.

Haley was a practical girl.

“Done,” she announced. “Can I blow now?”

“Knock yourself out.” Alice smiled.

They all cheered as the tiny flame blew out. Alice promptly took the chocolate cupcake away and cut it into three slices, doling one out to each of them.

Haley took a bite and closed her eyes, savoring how creamy and delicious the cake was. “Umm, this is heaven.”

“Yep,” Alice agreed, scarfing down her slice.

Madison was still licking her fingers when she peeked at her watch and announced, “Come on, Haley, you have two hours to shower and get ready. Then we’re taking you out to celebrate.”

Haley suppressed a groan and tried to put a conciliatory expression on her face. “Guys, I’m super thankful for the surprise, but can’t we just stay in and binge watch romcoms?”

Madison threw Alice an I-told-you-so stare before saying, “Absolutely not. We have plans.”

“But I still have to pack my bag to go home, and I leave super early tomorrow.”

Madison looped her arm under Haley’s elbow and steered her toward her room, saying, “Which is why we took the liberty of packing for you.” Madison pushed the door open to reveal Haley’s bag standing open on the floor, packed to perfection. Clothes, shoes, and makeup cases were arranged in tidy rows, and all the space was occupied with the maximum possible efficiency. Haley had never seen a suitcase better organized.

“Now, chop, chop.” Madison playfully spanked her to prompt her to enter the room. “We’re on a schedule.”

“Okay, okay.” Haley rolled her eyes and pushed Maddie out the door.

She started donning her clothes and, still in her underwear, she grabbed a clean towel to go shower. With a sigh, she threw a wistful glance at her packed-to-the-brim bag. Well, at least one half of her birthday wish had come true.

***

When she came out of the steaming shower, she found the girls eating pizza at the kitchen bar.

“Wait, are we staying in or going out?”

“In for food,” Madison said. “Out for fun.”

“We’re meeting the others at a bar in downtown Boston,” Alice explained. “But we wanted to eat first and avoid getting drunk on an empty stomach.”

Haley hoped to avoid getting drunk on any kind of stomach, and she also wondered who “the others” meeting them downtown were. But the pizza smelled delicious, so, with one pink towel wrapped around her body and another one around her head, she sat next to Madison and grabbed a slice.

For three girls, the giant pizza sitting in front of them disappeared alarmingly quickly.

Brushing her hands together to get rid of the crumbs, Haley asked, “What’s the dress code?”

“Dressed up,” Alice said, shrugging apologetically as if to say: not my fault.

“High heels?” Haley asked, disgruntled.

Both her roommates nodded.

“Are we going to walk?”

“Hell no,” Madison said. “We’ll call an Uber as soon as we’re ready and”—she looked at her watch—“we should get a move on.”

They all hopped off their respective stools and paused in the hall.

“Meet again here in half an hour?” Madison asked.

They all nodded and disappeared into their rooms. But of course, in less than five minutes they all ended up in Madison’s room, exchanging makeup, curling each other’s hair, and trying on outfits.

Haley opted for a white dress with spaghetti straps and an empire waist, Madison for a colorful, flowy dress, and Alice for a classic little black dress. And, voilà, they were only slightly late when their driver dropped them off at the designated bar downtown.

Inside, their usual crowd of friends was waiting for them. Mostly girls from their sorority and guys from the team: Matt Lucas, Blake Donovan, Jack… and, of course, David Williams. He was drinking a beer with his elbow propped against the bar, talking to Becky, another soon-to-be-senior Kappa Kappa Gamma.

Becky had a bit of an easy-girl reputation. She’d slept with Jack the previous year—way before he was with Alice—and from the way she was flirting with David now, she looked like she wouldn’t mind going home with him tonight.

Haley grimaced involuntarily. The idea somehow didn’t sit well with her. Not so much what—who—Becky did or didn’t do. Everyone male or female was free to have sex or not have sex with however many people they wanted. But the certainty that she didn’t want Becky and David to sleep together tonight struck Haley like a bolt of lightning, sending a weird current down her spine.

He lifted his gaze and their eyes met, causing another stream of electricity to course through Haley’s body. This was the first time they’d seen each other after David had told her he loved her. Even at a distance, and even in the faint lights of the bar, the blue of his eyes sparkled. David’s mouth curved up at one corner and he waved.

“What are you looking at with that long face?” Madison asked, and then followed Haley’s gaze to the bar. “Who the hell invited him?”

“Come on, Maddie.” Alice rolled her eyes. “He’s friends with everyone we know, and he’s Haley’s friend, too. Right?” She turned to her for confirmation.

Haley blushed profusely and nodded, hoping the dim lights would cover her flush.

“Whatever,” Madison said, and marched off to the opposite side of the room to go talk to Matt.

“I need a drink.” Haley plastered a smile on her lips. “Join me?”

“Can’t wait for a Cosmo, they make the bestest here.” Alice linked her arm with Haley’s and they joined Jack and Blake in the line to order.

There, Alice let go of Haley and wrapped her arms around Jack’s waist, a megawatt smile brightening her face at once. “A Cosmo for your girlfriend and another one for the birthday girl.”

Jack turned around, his smile matching Alice’s, and bent down to steal a kiss. “Two Cosmos for the ladies on their way.”

Haley felt a little pang of envy. Their happiness made her miss Scott so much more. It’d be another three weeks before he came back, and it still seemed like an eternity. Haley looked away from the happy couple, and her eyes landed on Madison next, guilt replacing envy at once. At least she had a boyfriend who adored her and who’d be here soon; what about Maddie?

Following Madison with her gaze as she moved across the room, Haley was surprised to see her friend stop next to David. At once, Becky made herself scarce and Madison and David began to talk in hushed tones. He was smiling, and she was scowling—without looking really mad.

For the first time, the reality that Madison had actually had sex with David—multiple times—struck Haley like a blow. They had that intimacy peculiar to ex-lovers. Madison looked too comfortable for her own good.

Everything Madison did lately confused Haley. First she was dating David, then she was in love with Scott. And after David had broken up with her in the worst possible way—if one was to believe her version of the story—there she was talking to him as if they were a pair of old friends. From the way she acted whenever he showed up in their group, Madison seemed to still hate David, so what business did she have talking to him?

Haley wished she could hear what they were saying.

Madison

Madison had not asked Haley a single question about her emergency road trip with David. If Scott knew and had nothing against it, neither did Madison. Even if she suspected David was gaining too many points with Haley. But their friendship had been on the mend since Haley had come back from Buffalo, and Madison didn’t want to risk ruining this newfound balance with indelicate questions.

But there was nothing wrong with probing the other party interested.

“Still playing the good boy part?” Madison asked.

“Not playing any part, Blondie.” David smirked. “It’s not my style.”

“And how’s your diabolical plan to steal your brother’s girlfriend going?”

“Why? Hoping I’d get a move on?”

“That’s not—” Madison started defending herself, but then she noticed David’s amused face and swatted him instead. “You’re still a jerk.”

“Oh, come on, Blondie, I’m only teasing you a little.”

Madison scoffed. “Why are you here?”

“To wish Haley a happy birthday. Is that against the law?”

“David, I know you… You have the charm on.”

“Are you charmed?”

“I’m immune.”

“Ouch.” David brought a hand to his chest. “Now you’re hurting me, Blondie.”

Madison scowled at him. “I will if you mess with Haley.”

David arched an eyebrow. “Am I still on your watch list?”

Madison wasn’t sure. “I’m glad you were there for Haley during the crisis with her dad, but I’m not sure your gesture was one hundred percent selfless.”

David made a cute, I’m-innocent face. “No?”

“Stop playing dumb. I bet you enjoyed being the hero.”

“Is that how Haley describes me now?”

Madison smiled despite herself. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re charmed.”

“Am not.”

David smirked but didn’t say anything.

Madison chewed on her lower lip.

“Come on, Blondie, spit out whatever you’re dying to say.”

“David, I know you care about Haley. But sometimes the best way to show someone you care about them is to back off and let them be happy with someone else.”

“The way you do, Blondie? And how much good has that done you?”

“Now you’re being mean again.”

“No, I’m telling the truth, just like I always do. Now, if you’ll excuse me…” He pushed past her and disappeared into the crowd.

Madison watched him go, not knowing if she still hated him to death or if he was growing on her.