The Thrashers(90)

“Hi!” Jodi said, her voice too high. “We … we were…”

She looked at Julian. His lips were red from kissing, but his expression was resigned.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Zack yelled, moving into the room.

Julian still wasn’t responding, so Jodi babbled, “It’s nothing! It just happened. We were fooling around, and—and he was helping me with painting—”

“In the middle of prom,” Zack said, disbelief coloring his voice.

“Yeah.” Jodi glanced at Julian as he leaned back on the worktable. He was staring at Zack in a way she’d never seen before. Like Zack was canceling his summer plans. Jodi continued, “It’s not a big deal.”

“How long has this been going on behind my back?” Zack snarled.

“Literally three and a half minutes.” She laughed lightly, and no one joined her.

Zack stepped closer to Jodi and pointed at Julian. “He’s using you! You don’t see that?!”

Jodi blinked at him, feeling Julian stiffen next to her.

“He wants to be on your good side before it’s your turn to testify,” Zack hissed.

Julian stepped forward, his eyes hard. “That’s not it at all—”

“Jodi, think! He was never this friendly to you before you were subpoenaed.”

Flashes of moments stacked onto a timeline in her head as her mouth opened and closed. Showing up for her when she was drunk out of her mind. Leaning on her locker, walking with her between classes—all beginning spring semester. And coming to Our Town—

Her eyes pricked, and she shook her head as it filled with too many thoughts. “I don’t—”

“He’s distracting you because you’re lonely.” Zack’s eyes were dark and vicious on Julian, and Jodi felt a weight drop in her stomach. “He seized the opportunity—”

“I’d watch what you say about seizing opportunities,” Julian said softly, a threat in his tone.

Zack paled before snapping, “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Don’t push me.”

“Okay!” Jodi stepped forward, holding her hand up like she could physically separate them. “We’re all just … running a little hot here. Julian and I”—she glanced at him—“were just messing around. It was nothing.”

Something flashed over his features in a ripple, like she’d said the exact words to break a curse. His eyes darkened and then zeroed in on Zack. In an even, casual voice, he asked, “Why do you care?”

“What?”

“Just two friends fooling around for a bit.” Julian shrugged. “No need to get upset.”

In that moment, she knew what she wanted Zack to say—how badly she wanted to hear that he was jealous or cared for her more than he’d ever realized. Julian set it up perfectly just to disappoint her.

“Of course I care.” Zack stepped forward. “You’ve never liked her, but now you want me to believe you’re into her?”

“And what if this was me and Paige,” Julian said, standing from the table smoothly. “Would it be such a big deal to you if Paige and I wanted to hook up?”

Jodi flinched. The thought of a simple swap of her for Paige seemed reductive, like his preference was random.

“You know it’s different—”

“How?” Julian said. “Both of them are your friends. Both of them are single.”

Zack seemed to crackle with tension as Julian remained still as stone.

“Paige has been hooking up with idiots for years,” Zack said. “She knows how to keep things casual.”

Jodi scoffed. “Okay. And I wouldn’t keep things casual?”

“Jo,” Zack said, exasperated. He touched her arm. “You know you’re not like that.”

Jodi looked into his eyes defiantly. She opened her mouth to argue.

Julian cut her off, his voice a sly shark under a tranquil surface. “But Emily was?”

Jodi blinked. There was a ringing in her ears as she watched Zack’s neck turn red. She stumbled back at the look of fear on his face.

“Don’t,” Zack said quietly. Begging.

Jodi looked between them, trying to follow. Trying to make sense of Emily being involved. Because if what Julian was implying was right, then Zack and Emily …

Her chest tightened, and bile crept up the back of her throat. Her skin felt like it didn’t belong to her.

Zack looked down at her, lips open, ready to explain.

Her voice cracked as she said, “Did you sleep with Emily?”

“No! He’s manipulating you again.” Zack grabbed her arms and leaned down to meet her eyes. “I didn’t have sex with her.”

Jodi’s eyes slid to Julian, leaning against the workbench, his tux brushed with gray paint and his face solemn. She didn’t know when she’d started trusting him. Maybe she was being manipulated, but there was something wild in Zack’s eyes, like everything hinged on her believing him. Which … it did. His entire life did.

“Please tell me the truth.” Tears sprang to her eyes. “Just talk to me like I’m Jodi and not your judge and jury, Zack.”

The hesitation he gave was all she needed.