TMI Read Free Page B

get a clue.”
    Meg huffed out a laugh and muttered, “He’s not the only one.”
    Chase raised his eyes to hers, and Meg stopped breathing. She never got tired of staring at his eyes. They hypnotized her and taunted her to find the hue and tint on a color wheel that could accurately render them, but that color didn’t exist. Flecks of beige, gold, green. Streaks of brown and gray with a rim of black—the colors seemed to swirl as he stared at her, and then Meg realized why.
    She’d hurt him.
    â€œSorry,” Meg murmured.
    Chase lowered those variegated eyes. “Um. Yeah. Whatever.”
    Bailey took pity on him. “We’re going to an art exhibit in Manhattan. Why don’t you come?”
    The words were out of Bailey’s mouth before Meg could kick her under the table. She gave Meg a bright smile. “And I-CON. You should come to that too.”
    Meg’s teeth almost cracked from the strength of her clench.
    â€œReally?” Chase looked to Meg for confirmation, hope glinting in his eyes, and Meg sighed, unable to resist. She hated that.
    â€œIt’s up to you.” She shrugged, hoping he couldn’t tell how much she really did want him to come. “You didn’t like the modern art exhibit at the library. You said it all looked like finger paints to you.”
    â€œIt did.”
    â€œAnd what about the last time we went to MoMA? You stared at The Scream and said you—”
    â€œYeah. I remember what I said, Megan.” He cut her off with a furrowed brow that intensified the color of his eyes.
    â€œI’m sorry. I just don’t want to waste your time, so if you have something better to do—”
    â€œMegan, I like hanging out with you. I don’t care what we do.” Chase shrugged, and Meg looked away with a wince. That’s exactly what she was afraid of.
    â€œChase, it’s not a date.”
    He looked away, and she swore she could see him physically deflate. “Why not?”
    â€œDelete your relationship status,” she said abruptly.
    He straightened up and glared at her. “I thought we were—”
    She cut him off. “We’re friends, Chase. That’s all.”
    He sighed and scrubbed his face with his hands, and she wanted to kick her own butt.
    â€œFine. I’ll delete the status when I get home.”
    The disappointment in his voice rattled the gate around her heart, and she wished she were stronger, tougher, with a heart coated in steel.
    She had to resist him. It was essential. He was graduating in a few more months and would go off to college. She and Bailey still had another year. She would not be the one who ruined his plans.
    And he would not ruin hers.
    â€œMegan?”
    â€œUm. Yeah.” Meg jerked when she saw Chase waving a hand in front of her face.
    He smiled, and it was a toothpaste commercial kind of smile that had her looking for the little twinkle that always sparkled at the end of those ads.
    â€œI gotta go. Later?”
    Her face burned. However, Meg nodded once and he was gone.
    â€œMeg—” Bailey began, but Meg cut her off.
    â€œWill you stop doing that?”
    â€œWhat?” She blinked, and Meg glared, not buying the innocent act.
    â€œStop pushing us together. It’s not fair to him.”
    â€œHe really likes you.”
    Meg’s eyes dropped. She knew that, and that was the entire problem. She couldn’t afford to like him back, and the more time they spent together, the harder it was to remember why.
    â€œBay, I don’t want to let him down.”
    â€œNot all guys are like our dads, Meg.”
    Meg sucked in a sharp breath. Neither of their dads had bothered to stick around long. Bailey never knew her dad, but Megan had known hers. She missed him. Every day, she missed him so much she was sure she’d choke on the tears. Bailey’s words were a slap, and they both knew it. “Bay, I don’t