After Hayden left, I took a quick shower, then flopped onto my bed and grabbed my phone.
Lena had sent me a message with a picture of Yuna, fast asleep, along with a little note:
[Yuna is safe.]
Of course she knew I’d be freaking out until I knew for sure.
I shot back a quick reply. [Thanks for looking out for her]
Almost immediately, Lena’s video call lit my screen Girl had definitely been waiting for me to
respond..
I grinned, figuring she was dying to spill a e details about her finally making it official with her long-
time crush. I swiped to answer, and there she was–lounging in her chair, practically glowing. Like, I
could feel her happiness through the screen.
I clicked my tongue yfully. “Whoa, someone’s got that post–love confession glow. You’re shining,
girl.”
Lena chuckled. “You’re being so extra right now.”
Jdidn’t bother with small talk. I was still thinking about how she kept Nate on edge for so long. “You
know
exactly how to y a guy, don’t you?”
“Do I?” she said, pretending to be all innocent.
“Puh–lease. Stop with the ‘do I? act. You know what you’re doing,” I teased.
Her grin said it all. She wasn’t fooling anyone. I thought back to when I heard Nate confessing his
feelings, both of them totally clueless about their mutual crush, Lena, I swear, when I heard Nate
say he liked you, I was this close to fist–pumping the air. I legit thought you’d jump into his arms
right there!”
Lenaughed. “But I didn’t, did I?”
“Yeah, and you totally caught me off guard!” I teased back. “Were you just too stunned to move?”
She smirked. “Oh, I was excited alright, but I kept it cool on purpose.”
I snorted. “Wow, so strategic.
“You could say that,” Lena shrugged, then her tone softened. “Rea, I’ve liked him forever, but like I
told you, I wasn’t gonna lose myself over it. I didn’t want him thinking his feelings were some grand
favor or something.”
Her words hit me. She’d said the same thing when I was going through stuff with Jace, telling me I
hadn’t kept things bnced. For someone new to the whole love thing, she sure knew how to
handle herself.
“You’re a total pro, Lsaid, giving her a thumbs–up.
“This is pro level?” Lena scoffed, acting all casual.
I mimicked her voice from when she and Nate finally got together, “Nate, I’m hungry.”
Lena burst intoughter. “Was I really that cute?”
I pretended to shiver. “Girl, you were so sweet, I felt my bones melting. Seriously, you’ve got it
down–chill
12
when you need to be, but soft when it counts.”
“Isn’t that what guys like?” she said, and her casualment hit harder than I expected. Here I
was, ten years of unrequited love and four years of failure, and Lena was just out here dropping
wisdom like it was nothing.
“I surrender. You’re the master. From now on, I’ll call you love guru,” I said, still feeling kind of
impressed.
Lenaughed lightly. “Why are you home alone? Where’s Hayden?”
“Oh, he went back to his ce,” I answered casually.
Lena raised her eyebrows, giving me a knowing look. “Let me guess… Aunt Flo’s in town?”
I grinned. “Nice try, but nope. Her hubl
re too, and they’re both on vacation.”
That had Lena cracking up, herughter contagious. I couldn’t help but join in. But after a second, I
nudged her. “Okay, enough stalling–spill the tea. What happened after you told Nate you were
hungry? Did he, uh… satisfy your needs?” I threw in some obvious innuendo.
Lena didn’t miss a beat. “I’ll leave that part to your imagination.”
Come on! Besties don’t hold out on each other!” I teased, pushing for more details.
She snorted. “Even besties have limits. Some things are off–limits.”
“Okay, fine. But there’s something I do need to tell you.” I suddenly remembered the weird guy I’d
seen outside her office earlier. It had been bugging me ever since. Original from N?velDrama.Org.