Read Online The Year We Fell Apart by Emily Martin - Free Book Online Page A

crawl. “You’re not coming to lunch?”
    “I’m going to sit this round out. But I’ll see you tonight.”
    “Awesome,” I say. Then I hate myself because I shouldn’t have said anything and now I sound all eager. “I mean, cool. See you later.”
    Nope. Not an improvement .
    He gets in his car and I wave because apparently I’m just as incapable of keeping my hands still as I am of keeping my mouth shut.
    Gwen eyes me, running her tongue over her top lip, looking like she’s trying really hard not to laugh.
    “What?” I ask a little too defensively.
    She shakes her head. “Let’s hit it. I’m starving.”
      *  *  *  
    We decide on the Broad Street Deli for lunch. Mackenzie and Gwen pop in to use the bathroom, and I stay outside to guard our table. Less than a minute later, it’s already under attack.
    “Hey, homewrecker.”
    I glance up and scowl. Lindsay Sullivan. She crosses her arms and glares back. Behind her I spot Mel Hendrickson, wearing dark sunglasses and a sinister smile. And then I see Jenny.
    I lick my lips. “Hi, Jen.”
    She looks me in the eye. Which is the most direct contact we’ve had since it happened. Her face is beet red. She gathers her stuff and pulls Mel’s arm like she can’t get out of my breathing space fast enough.
    “Guys, let’s go,” she says.
    Lindsay ignores her. “Throw yourself at anyone’s boyfriend lately?”
    A rusty pickup roars past, stirring the oppressive afternoon air. I wonder if pretending I didn’t hear her is a viable option.
    Throw myself at. See, that’s the kind of thing that gets me all worked up. Because Jake lied to me just as much as he lied to Jenny. And probably nothing would have even happened if Sadie hadn’t snuck off with his friend and totally sexiled me.
    If she were here now, Sadie would know how to handle this. She’d stand up for me. And she certainly wouldn’t back down from the confrontation.
    But she isn’t here. And I’m not her.
    “I’m sorry,” I say in an inaudible whisper. Maybe Jenny can read lips. Apparently Lindsay can.
    “Like an apology coming from a skank like you is worth anything.”
    Through the café window I see Mackenzie and Gwen making their way back outside. Shit.
    “I’m leaving,” Jenny says in a firm voice. Mel is close on her heels. But Lindsay lingers.
    This isn’t an argument I can have right now. It’s none of Lindsay’s business, anyway.
    “Look, just tell Jenny I’m—”
    With a flick of her bangle-wrapped wrist, Lindsay tosses the rest of her iced tea in my face.
    “Slut,” she hisses, backing away just as Gwen comes through the door. “I hope you get chlamydia.”
    Gwen rushes over in time to hear Lindsay’s closing statement. “What the hell was that?”
    “Nothing. Just . . .” With a shaking hand, I tug at my soaked T-shirt. It’s stuck to me like a second skin. “Fuck.”
    Each inhale comes faster and louder than the one before. People are staring. Slowing down as they pass by like I’m a car accident they can’t help but watch. Blood rushes in my ears and I squeeze my eyes shut.
    Mackenzie takes my hand and leads me inside to the restroom. We weave through the line in front of the counter and pass a dozen or so tables, but I focus on Mackenzie’s back the whole time, too mortified to meet anyone’s gaze. She locks the door once we’re all inside.
    “Give me your shirt.”
    I pull it over my head and sit down on the toilet. Try again to breathe normally.
    Gwen crouches down next to me. “You okay?” She rips off a wad of toilet paper and hands it over.
    The concerned crease between her brows pushes me over the edge. These girls aren’t supposed to know this about me. They’re supposed to be separate from my school life. So is Declan. But it’s all running together, and I can’t stand the look of sympathy she’s giving me now. I don’t deserve it.
    “I hooked up with her boyfriend,” I blurt out. “Not the girl who threw the drink at me. The