Free Colorblind by Siera Maley Page B

slipped through them and fell to the ground, where he squashed it with his foot. “I’m a pretty cynical person. Even more cynical than you, which is saying something. So as much as I’m sure you don’t want to hear it, here’s the truth. All of this isn’t going to end well. You fucked up pretty badly by putting yourself in the position you’re in. If you hook up with her and she dies, you’ll be miserable.” He paused, digging the heel of his shoe into the gravel beneath us. “With that said… If you don’t hook up with her and she dies, you’ll be miserable and you’ll regret it.”
    I hid my face against my knees and tried to ignore how low my heart had sank. “Maybe.”
    “Not ‘maybe’. If I was wrong, you’d just stop spending time with her, because it wouldn’t be worth it. Instead, she’s the only thing that’s been on your mind since you met her. I kind of miss you, actually.”
    I wiped at the corners of my eyes and couldn’t bring myself to look back at him. “This sucks.”
    “I warned you about this happening.” His tone was blunt. Typical tactless Robbie. I tried hard to not get mad at him.
    “I think I’m gonna go. Can you talk to George for me?”
    “Of course.” He stood with me for a moment, and then, awkwardly, said, “I’m here if you want to talk.”
    “I know.”
    He hesitated, lingering for another few seconds before he left. I got to my feet as his footsteps faded, and my stomach twisted into a knot. Before Chloe, Robbie had been the only person who’d understood me.
    Now it felt like no one did.
     

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
     
    “Hey, what’s up?”
    I tried to hide a sniffle, hoping Chloe couldn’t hear it through the phone. “Um, are you busy?” I asked her.
    “Just playing a board game with my parents. Why?” I didn’t answer at first, and Chloe sounded concerned the next time she spoke. “Is something wrong?”
    “Not really. I just… thought you might come over?”
    “Sure. Just give me a few minutes and I’ll be right there.” There was a brief pause, and I heard what sounded like two distinct voices in the background. A moment later, Chloe was back on the line. “Hey, um, actually, how do you feel about coming here? If you don’t want to, I can come over, but Dad’s only met you that one time and Mom wants to meet you. We can provide free food…”
    I considered it. Earlier on in my friendship with Chloe, I’d wanted to avoid her parents. But a few weeks had passed and things were different now. Getting to know her parents wouldn’t make things much worse than they already were. It was probably worth it to make Chloe happy. Talking to her alone could wait.
    “Okay.”
    “Seriously?” She sounded surprised. Apparently I’d been a little more obvious about my urge to keep away from her family than I’d originally thought. “Okay, awesome! See you soon?”
    “Yes,” I confirmed and hung up.
    I went to the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was messy, my mascara was smeared, and I probably smelled like fast food. I did what I could to fix myself up, and was halfway out of the house when Dad stopped me.
    “Where’re you off to? I thought your stomach was bothering you.”
    “Um, I feel a little better now,” I explained. “It stopped hurting. I’m just going to Chloe’s.”
    He studied me, eyebrows furrowed. I could tell he didn’t believe me. “Are you sure? You seemed pretty upset when you got home.”
    “I’m okay, Dad.” I brushed a stay tendril of hair out of my face and turned away from him quickly, eager to go.
    “Wait a second, Harper. What aren’t you telling me?”
    I froze in the doorway and let out a quiet sigh. Then I faced him again. He’d folded his arms across his chest now. “It’s nothing, Dad. Just… typical teenage girl stuff. I’m PMS-ing and a boy broke my heart.”
    “Very funny. I’ve known you your whole life; don’t think I haven’t realized that the biggest