Page 10 of Divine Oaths

“Hmm?” Louisa said, not listening.

I squinted, straining to see it among the few remaining cars in the lot, wondering if I’d made a mistake. But I recognized the last few numbers on his license plate and that tiny bag of incense tied to his rearview mirror.

As I walked with her to the car, I juggled one of the boxes while texting Jojo.

Are you still at the mall?

Three dots appeared instantly. They disappeared for a beat, and then they returned moments before his message sent.

No. Headed out hours ago. Why?

I see your car—I began to write, but then erased it. Just didn’t know how long ago you left.

Right when I said I was. When Louisa got there. There was traffic. As usual.

I hesitated.

Are you sure? You’re not hiding something from me?

The three dots reappeared. Then he answered.

What would I possibly have to hide?

Not a denial. Not the truth either.

When I didn’t answer, he double texted.

Look. I know this move is hard. It’s hard for me too, and I hate that it and the new job are separating us. But maybe… maybe it’s for the best? I know you don’t think it is. But I can’t be who you need me to be, Sianna. I can’t be more to you than what I am now, and I don’t think either of us want our friendship to end on bad terms.

Three dots appeared again, and my heart thumped furiously.

Let’s just say goodbye now. With everything I have to prepare for the research job, I won’t even be around much for the rest of the summer anyway.

Beside me, Louisa glanced at my phone from over my shoulder.

“Is he breaking up with you?”

I spun to face her, slipping my phone in my pocket, dropping it in the process, and stumbling to retrieve it. The screen cracked and the fractured image of my reflection loomed up at me: the tight coils of my curly black hair framing my round face; the brown of my eyes, brimming with tears that I couldn’t—wouldn’t—let fall.

Looking away from Louisa, I wiped my eyes with the back of my palms.

“I’m—oh, Sianna, I was only teasing.”

“I know,” I said, pretending to laugh. She patted my shoulder with concern. “There’s just something in my eye. And actually, I think I’ll go back with Jojo.”

Louisa frowned, following my gaze across the parking lot to the car near the alleyway.

“Is that his car? He’s still here?”

I nodded, feigning annoyance as I pulled out Jojo’s car key from my bag. He’d given me the spare one—something Louisa didn’t know I had.

“He lost his car key,” I lied. “He’s been trying to find it all day. I just realized I have his spare, even though I told him it was probably at home.”

“You just realized it? Or were you mad at him and let him waste his time looking for them? I’ll never understand the two of you.” She shook her head, though she couldn’t hide her slight amusement. “Why don’t you talk about it when you get home? He’s just one floor up.”

“It’s urgent,” I said.

“I don’t like the sound of that, Sianna.”