I shook my head, quickly, instinctively. “Don’t,” I whispered. “Don’t tell him.”

Conor’s eyes locked with mine, his confusion was obvious. And yet. “You’re exactly right,” he told Eli, before changing the topic. “About the Mayers final bid diligence.”

“Why?” he asked after hanging up.

“I…don’t want him to worry,” I said. Conor looked at me like he sensed the lie, and…so did I. I just couldn’t figure out what the true reason was, so I decided to force-feed him some Irn-Bru.

I was going to go home and get changed before meeting the others. I think Conor planned to do the same. It just kind of happened, that we checked the time and realized that we were late. And the reason I’m wearing his coat is…well. He runs hot. I don’t.

“You okay?” Rose asks when Georgia leaves for the loo. Her palm rubs affectionately against my thigh. “You seem a little distracted.”

“Just—” Tired, I’m about to say. Instead I put down my empty soda glass and shift toward her. “Did you know that it was going on? Alfie and Georgia?”

Her button nose scrunches up. “You already asked. Did you forget?”

“No. It’s just, you didn’t seem too shocked about it.”

“I didn’t know, Maya.”

Maybe I should stop being confrontational about this. It’s just that…“If Surika dumped you,” I say calmly, “and a week later I caught her making out with my cousin, I would be more open to admitting that my cousin acted like a total cunt.”

“Do you have a cousin?”

“What?”

“I’m just saying—you never mentioned having a cousin.”

I let out a small, annoyed laugh. “I do. Second or third degree. I don’t really talk to them.”

“Yeah, well.” She shrugs. “Listen, I don’t want to tell you what to do, but…it’s better for everyone if we move on. I mean, you aren’t so innocent yourself.”

“How so?”

“You and Hot Rich Guy were in touch the whole time. And I don’t blame you—keep your options open. But we can move past the recriminations, no?”

“I think that I’m allowed to be angry at my roommate for banging my ex. And maybe I’m also allowed to be angry at my closest friend for not taking my side more forcefully.”

“I know you think that. It’s because you have significant anger issues.”

My eyes turn to slits. “That is low, Rose.”

“Oh, come on, Maya. She’s my cousin.”

I have to take half a million deep breaths, before I can say, “I get where you’re coming from.” I slide out of the booth, hopping off the elevated platform. “I just wish you tried to do the same.”

I walk away, done with the conversation, letting resentment twist through me. Staying with Rose seems pointless, especially when there’s someone else I’d rather spend time with. Someone who’s not going to lie to my face. Plus, I want something stronger than soda.

At the counter, I lean over to catch the bartender’s attention. Fail, repeatedly, until Conor appears at my side.