Best Served Cold (23 page)

“Hmph. A big mistake he was making out with in front of all our friends just to shake
me
loose. What goes around...”

“Yeah, I pretty much said the same thing. And he said he knew it, but it was complicated, and he just wanted to talk to you, to make sure you weren’t going to do something dumb because of him.”

“Same old song,” I snorted. “Ava, I still don’t see--”

“I’m not done yet.” She said it so grimly that I snapped my mouth closed.

“After that, I don’t know, we were just talking. I had forgotten how we used to talk when you guys were dating. I didn’t realize I’d kind of missed that. And then I got out some wine, and we were just...talking.

“And then he said something funny, I don’t even remember what it was, and I laughed. When I looked at him, he...umm, he had a strange expression, and then...he leaned over and kissed me.”

“Oh, my God! Are you freaking kidding me? And here I was thinking he might be changing...Ave, I am so sorry. He’s an asshole.”

“Jules, you don’t understand.” Misery etched her face. “It wasn’t just him kissing me. I kissed him back. And more.”

I’m not sure what my face looked like at that moment, but it was probably a study in shock.

“More? What do you...? Did you sleep with him, Ave?”

“No.” Her eyes were bleak. “But we—there was kissing. Lots of it. And...touching. When I finally made him stop—made us stop—he said he should go, and he would call me the next day. But I told him he shouldn’t, that you—I couldn’t do that to you.”

I laid my hands flat on the table and stared at them, breathed in and out once. I looked up at Ava. Of everything Liam had done to me, of every way he had hurt me, this was the worst. Not only because of the pain and betrayal I felt, but because of the guilt I saw in my best friend’s eyes.

“Ave, I’m not mad. Not at you, anyway. I’m—I’m surprised. Shocked. Um, I don’t know what to say.”

She leaned forward, almost pleading. “I didn’t, either. This is Liam. After he left and I could think straight, I realized how stupid I was. That he was playing me, probably just to hurt you. Then he called me when he got back to his room, and he asked me to meet him the next morning for breakfast, somewhere off campus. I said I could never do anything to hurt you, and he told me you were with so many other guys, you wouldn’t even notice.”

I heaved a sigh and shook my head. “Ava, this is a mess. I get—at least, I mostly get—how you could kiss him. He’s hot, he’s good, and you’re not the first girl he’s conned into a make-out session or worse. But why on earth didn’t you tell him to go to hell when he called?”

She lifted one shoulder. “Jules, he was so sweet. When he said—what he said, I wanted to believe him. I hadn’t made up my mind when you came back from the wrestling thing. But when you told me what he’d offered, I knew he’d been lying to me. All week, though, ever since, he’s been calling me, trying to see me. Waiting for me after class. I saw him once or twice. I feel so stupid, Jules, and I still do. I’m so, so sorry. Can you forgive me?”

I sipped my now-watery drink. “Ava, there’s nothing to forgive. I don’t care what Liam does now. I only care about you. If I really thought you and Liam could—well, could work—I’d deal with it. But he’s only out to hurt you.”

“But everyone knows you don’t go out with your friends’ ex. Ever. What’s the matter with me? I’m a horrible bitch.”

“You are so not. Liam is a master manipulator, Ave. That’s a given. I just wish you had told me right away and not agonized.”

She rubbed her forehead. “It was just temporary insanity, I guess.”

We finished our drinks in silence, and even on the way back to the dorm, neither of us spoke.

Since I never had dated before Liam, the idea of a boy coming between one of my friends and me was strange. I wanted to be angry with Liam again, to go back to the place where revenge felt like a perfect option.

At the same time, something was still bothering Ava. I knew she felt regret, remorse—now the surprise trip to church for confession last weekend made sense—but she also seemed sad. When we got back to our room, she changed into sweats, stuck in her ear buds and climbed into bed with one of her huge textbooks.

I worked on homework until the darkening room and my growling stomach made me think of dinner. I glanced across the room at Ava. She was propped against pillows, with a book on her knees, but she wasn’t reading. Instead she was staring into the distance, a frown wrinkling her forehead.

I tossed a pillow at her, to get her attention. She jumped and then took out the ear buds.

“What was that for?”

“It’s time for dinner. You want me to get takeout and bring it back? You’re looking pretty comfy over there.”

She shrugged. “I’m not very hungry. Whatever you want to do.”

I climbed off my bed and onto Ava’s. “What’s wrong? You’re not still worried I’m upset, are you? I’m not. Not at you.”

She didn’t meet my eyes. “No. I’m just...disappointed in myself. All this time I’ve been so focused on the important things. I haven’t given boys a thought. Well.” She gave me a half-smile. “Maybe a thought or two. But I’ve stayed on my path. And then this guy who I know for sure is a jerk and a player comes along and kisses me, and suddenly I’m no better than any other lovesick girl.”

“Lovesick?” I wrinkled my forehead.

“It’s a figure of speech.”

I laid my head on her shoulder. “Ave, you are the most amazing person I know. I see the looks you get when we’re out. You’re gorgeous, smart and funny. All you’d have to do is let it happen, and guys would be falling at your feet. But you have a plan, and you stay focused. Just because you have one little slip doesn’t mean you’ve failed.” I sighed. “I can tell you Liam Bailey isn’t just a guy. He might be a class A ass, but the boy knows how to kiss. And what to say to a girl, when he’s in the mood to be charming. So don’t beat yourself up.”

If anything, Ava looked more miserable.

“I didn’t tell you. I had a meeting today with Dr. Turner. I’ve decided not to write that story for the blog. At least, I’m not naming names.”

“What made you change your mind?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. I guess it was realizing that I’ve moved on. I had such a good time with Jesse last night. It’s easy, and it feels right, you know? Not the constant up and down and angst there was with Liam. I ran it all by Dr. Turner, and she gave me some good advice.”

“So all the revenge plans are abandoned?” Ava worried the side of her lip between her teeth.

“I guess. When I saw him this afternoon, I--”

Ava shifted on her pillows, turning so she could see me. In the process, I nearly fell off the bed.

“You saw Liam this afternoon?”

“Yeah. Sorry, I guess I forgot, with us talking about everything else. He was standing outside the building here when I got back from seeing Dr. Turner.”

“What was he doing here?”

I shook my head. “I have no idea. He was kind of cagey about it. No, that’s not true. He was, like, nervous. And he apologized for the other day. I mean, really said he was sorry, not the typical cover-his-ass-and-not-take-any-blame crap. I almost fell over.”

“He apologized?” Ava sat up.

“Yeah, for what that’s worth.”

She narrowed her eyes at me, and I could tell something was going on in her brain. When she spoke, it was with a new calm.

“Jules, maybe your revenge plans aren’t quite over yet.”

“Ava, that’s crazy.”

“No, it’s not. It’s perfect. Everything else we were thinking about before was so haphazard—you showing up all over campus with different guys hoping to make him jealous, even writing about him on the blog—all of that felt sloppy. But this, this is exactly right.”

“It’s not fair to you. Ave, you don’t need to do this.”

“Oh, I think I do. And it’s fair to me. He decided to include me in his games. He wants to mess with me? Good. Now it’s time for him to get a big old tablespoon of his own medicine. And isn’t it perfect that my birthday just happens to be in two weeks?”

“The last thing I want to do is plan another birthday party. You know what people are going to be saying. It’ll bring up everything from December again.”

“Exactly. So it’ll be fresh in people’s minds. And when Liam walks in, every eye will be on him.”

“Ava, are you sure...?”

“Stop it, Jules. I’m positive. Put it into action. Get the girls on the floor to help you with the plans and the decorations. You can handle the food. We can do it in the main lounge here.” She smiled, and the look in her eye made me shiver. “And don’t worry about Liam. I’ll deliver a special invitation to him.”

“God, Ave, you scare me. Remember you’re supposed to use your powers for good, not evil.”

She laughed. “This is for the good. Liam Bailey is going to learn what happens when you screw with the wrong women.”

The buzzing of my phone on Sunday morning interrupted a sweet dream I was having about a sunny beach and one of those fruity drinks with a little paper umbrella.

Muttering under my breath, I reached for the phone with my eyes still closed and swiped it on before realizing it was a text, not a call. I squinted at the screen, trying to focus my eyes on the tiny words.

Almost home. Stopped for gas. When can you come over?

I grinned. Jesse. And he must have missed me.

You’re early!

Left first thing.

I wondered how that had gone over with his mom. The little clock in the corner of my phone showed it was just past nine, which meant he must have left New York around six or so.

I have to stop at grocery 1
^st
.

I’ll come get you, we’ll go together. Be there in 30 mins?

I scrambled to sit up. Thirty minutes? Only a guy would expect anyone to be ready in half an hour. I tried to think clearly for a moment and then made a decision.

I’ll be downstairs waiting.

I could see my breath as I stood outside the dormitory, but the sun was almost warm. I stood basking in it, bundled up against the chill air but still thinking fondly of my dreams about the beach.