Free You Before Anyone Else by Julie Cross and Mark Perini Page A

my room and stare at my phone for several seconds before pulling up Jason’s number on my phone. I haven’t spent the last ten months thinking about my ex who dumped me before going to college, I swear I haven’t. But scrolling through Facebook and Instagram the past couple weeks, knowing my high school friends are all home for the summer, it makes me wish for that life again. Movie dates with my nice boyfriend, weekend trips to the mall with friends, hanging out in my backyard pool with kids from school, with my dad and brothers. I miss the safe familiarity of it.
    I stare at Jason’s number in my phone. On impulse, I hit call. My heart picks up speed. Not out of love exactly, but more like from the guilt that comes with failing to stay away. I’m about to hang up and text him a “sorry, I butt-dialed you” excuse, but he answers on the first ring.
    â€œHey, Fin, I was just gonna call you.”
    I sink back against my headboard. All the new unfamiliar that came with my hookup with Eddie is erased by this voice that I know so well. It wraps around me like a favorite sweatshirt.
    â€œReally? What for?”
    â€œYour brothers’ birthday party next weekend. I got invited,” he says. “What were you calling about?”
    I clear my throat. “Oh…um, the party. Of course. Gotta make sure we have enough goodie bags.”
    God, I’m lame.
    â€œWell, I’m willing to sacrifice mine for the greater good if needed.”
    â€œI figured. Hero complex and all that.” I take a breath, trying to be the cool New York City girl most of my friends assume I’ve become. “So…does that mean you’re coming?”
    He’s my fucking neighbor. Of course he’s coming.
    â€œUh-huh. I’ll stop by for a little—”
    Summer pops her head in my room, a big grin plastered on her face. “We’re having chicken tonight!”
    I gesture to the phone so she’ll shut up, but that only gets her riled up more. “So, I’ll see you next weekend then, Jason?”
    â€œJason? Oh no. No way.” Summer bounds toward me and snatches the phone from my hand before I can stop her. “Hi, Jason. It’s Summer.”
    She moves quickly toward the door. I dive at her, grabbing her around the waist. We both end up tangled together, half in my room, half in the hallway.
    â€œFinley’s going through a program,” Summer says to Jason. “She’s not supposed to have contact with people from her past for a while.”
    â€œGive me the fucking phone,” I hiss at her. I reach for it but end up banging my elbow on the doorframe.
    â€œAnd she’s way too busy having good sex with models to have time for you.”
    Oh my God, I’m gonna kill her.
    Summer hangs up on Jason but flips over on her stomach, still scrolling through my phone. “You need to delete him from your contacts.”
    â€œGive me the damn phone!” I get my fingers on it this time, but her grip is too tight. In a moment of desperation, my other hand stretches toward my desk, feeling around for a pair of scissors. I hook my index finger through the handle and then hold them above Summer’s head.
    â€œThink Prada would mind if you showed up tomorrow with a bald patch?”
    Summer looks over her shoulder at me, wide-eyed. “You bitch.”
    â€œPhone?” I hold out my hand, and she drops it into my palm. I’m about to let her up when both of us notice Elana and her mom standing in the hallway, staring at us.
    Elana’s mom shakes her head and says something in French. Elana looks us over as if to say and I’m the one who needs su pervision?
    I push off the floor and get to my feet again. Summer does the same. She straightens her clothes, puts every hair back in place. “Someday, you’ll appreciate everything I’ve done for you.”
    I glare at her. “Next time, I’m leaving you alone to