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“Why didn’t you tell me?” she finally said, tone low and carrying a hint of hurt that pulled at my seams.

Mark’s hand came to rest on her shoulder, and I badly wished someone would hold me too, so I wouldn’t unravel right there in the middle of the cafeteria.

In a flash, Liam’s accusations seared through me.

My throat bobbed, swallowing around a jagged knot that wouldn’t budge.

“I’m so sorry. I… I didn’t know how. And—”

The food arrived, but I smelled nothing as the waiter set the plate down in front of me with a soft clink and retreated with near-silent footsteps.

“I thought you’d judge me.” My voice cracked.

I swallowed and took a hasty gulp of coffee, scalding my tongue, though I barely felt it.

“I wanted to tell you so many times. I just…”

I forced myself to meet her eyes.

“Panicked.”

My admission coaxed out a slow breath I’d been holding forever, and the weight perched on my chest eased a sliver.

She tilted her head sideways at me and frowned.

My stomach plummeted.

Then, warmth seeped back into her face, and cautious hope soared inside me.

“I will judge, you know. You’re my friend, it’s part of the deal,” she said with a strained little chuckle that settled my heart a touch more.

Her hand reached out to clasp mine on the table, its softness making my eyes sting.

“I thought you’d strangle him sooner than kiss him—but hey, what the hell do I know?”

She shrugged and laughed, Mark followed with a too-loud guffaw, and the ice splintered between us as a thin wisp of a chuckle tore from my chest.

The glint behind her eyelashes sharpening in a way that spelled trouble, she leaned in, and before I knew it, she was dragging out everything I’d kept under lock and key.

The weeks of meeting in secret all over campus earned me a perfectly-synced eyebrow waggle from both of them.

Bzzzt.

Frantic butterflies kicked up in my ribcage.

J: She looks meddlesome even from here. Need backup? xx

A stupid little grin tugged at my mouth. I snuffed it out at once.

“Was that him?” Mark grinned wolfishly from across the table.

Damn it.

As one, our gazes flicked sideways to where he was eating with Matthew and Oliver.

To his right lay a chair that remained unoccupied.

My stomach gave a painful lurch, then plunged to the floor.