“She’s my girlfriend.”

“So? I’m your best friend! Why is it important to cram Ray into your schedule but not me?”

Inside, a cheer rang out. “It’s not that I’m avoiding you or anything. It makes it hard that you two don’t get along, though, you know. If I could invite you out with us this wouldn’t be an issue.”

“So, you’re saying it’s my fault?”

“No, I’m just saying … can’t you try to be friends with her? Then I won’t have to choose between you two.”

“Not that it’s seemed like much of a choice lately,” I said.

“That’s not true.”

“Well, I don’t know what you want from me,” I snapped. “I’m not trying to not be friends with her. It’s not like I’m rude or mean or anything.”

“I can still tell, though. You should see your face every time you’re near her. It’s like you give her daggers twenty-four seven, and she hasn’t ever done anything to you, Darc. It makes her uncomfortable.”

I pictured Brooke and Ray snuggled up on the couch, while Ray badmouthed me, told Brooke how cruel I was to her, how mean I was, and Brooke agreed with her. Both of them saying how horrible it was to have me around. Like a joke I was the only one not in on.

I’d had no idea Brooke felt like that.

And, why? Because I didn’t light up with joy every time Ray burst in to stand between Brooke and me? Seriously?

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and spoke with a worryingly shaky voice. “It’s not about what she’s done to me. I feel weird about her because she was always so mean to you.”

“That was in the past,” Brooke said in a firm voice. “I appreciate that you have my back, but you have to trust my judgment. If I think she’s changed, she’s changed. I need you to support that.”

“I’m not in love with the idea of unquestioningly supporting you if I don’t like a situation you’re in,” I said.

“Don’t do it unquestioningly, then. Do it logically. When was the last time you saw Ray be anything but gorgeous to me?”

I bit my lip. A little too hard.

Brooke took my silence as agreement. “See? She’s sweet, Darc. She’s fun, and supportive, and understanding. She’d never do anything to hurt me, never, and it’s ridiculous for you to be suspicious of her still.”