Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right by Rosie Steppe

Chapter 697 Chapter 697 Chall

The second I brought up my dad, Wayne clammed up. Guess it's hard to chat when your dad's the reason mine's

gone.

"There will never be meatballs I like in this world again," I said, staring down at the meatballs Xander had made. I tried to sound casual, like I didn't care, but my brain was screaming, 'Don't blow this! Don't let Wayne catch on about Xander. Because now? I knew. Xander was Hayden. The disguise, the secrecy-it wasn't random. He had a reason. Whatever it was, I just had to roll with it for now.

"Rea, I'm really sorry about your parents." His voice dripped guilt, but his face? Ugh, it was all fake pity, like he thought that'd fix anything.

It didn't. If anything, it made my stomach twist, but I just smiled tight and said, "It's not your fault."

He gave a bitter smile. "You're... so kind, Rea."

Yeah, kind enough to almost forgive his family once. Key word: almost. I'd learned better. No way I'd let that slide

-not now, not ever.

drink-pumpkin spice milk. One sip,

than Hayden's ever was. And when he finally stops pretending he's not Hayden, I'm totally gonna ask if he spent his fake-dead

good," I said, not holding back, even with Wayne's eyes practically glued to

you have plans tonight?" he asked, like he'd been hanging on to my

talking," I said, licking a little pumpkin spice milk off the corner of

I realized because Wayne's eyes darkened. He swallowed -twice before saying, "Then... how

reaction was to turn him down, but after a second, I reconsidered. I'd been stringing him along lately, and tossing him

stretched wide. "What

You pick,"

someone stepped into the office but backed out fast when

on. "I'll get going,

left, I exhaled a huge sigh of relief and focused

container. And honestly, I was sure I wouldn't be hungry again until tomorrow

Ron: [Didn't seem like a good time to talk

answering. Instead, I tried calling Demi. No dice; her

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