THE PERFECT GUY

Chp 12: The price of betrayal

Rachel's POV.

"I'll be working from home, and so will Harry..."

𝘉𝘢 𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘱.

"𝐼'𝑚 𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑦 𝑖𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑘𝑖𝑠𝑠 𝑎 𝑡𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑔𝑖𝑟𝑙𝑠."

𝘉𝘢 𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘱.

"𝐽𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑒, 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡'𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼'𝑚 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑤𝑎𝑦, 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡?!"

𝑅𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑙.

𝑅𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑙!

𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔?

𝐼 𝑑𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤.

"𝑁𝑜, 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑦."

"Rachel!"

I clutch my chest as a tear drops onto the table.

I gasp for air, my head pounding.

"What's wrong?" Madeline asks, squeezing my hand.

I close my eyes, trying to calm my breathing.

"Nothing," I reassure my sister.

"Are you sure? Your breathing is unusual," Mom says.

I press my fingers to my temples.

"Fine. Just... Er, need to get to school," I say, stumbling across the room to find my bag.

"You going to school? Lemme give you a lift," Harry offers, walking into the room.

"No. I'm fine. Thanks, but I'll just walk."

"I'm not taking no for an answer. Come on, hamster," he says, pushing me toward the door.

𝐻𝑎𝑚𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟...

I smile a bit.

It's been months since I've heard that nickname.

Once we're in his car, he gives me a look I can't quite place my finger on.

"What?" I ask, even though I'm not planning to.

"What're you on?" he asks.

My face scrunches up. "Huh?"

"You on drugs?"

"What?! Are you crazy? Of course not! You know I'd never do something like that."

"No. I don't know. I come home and guess what? My little sister is making out with some prick."

"What the hell is your problem, Harry? You know what? I'm walking. Like I planned to," I say, about to sprint out the door.

Harry pulls me back. "Look. I'm sorry, but I'm not used to this person."

"What person?" I ask.

"You. Mom and Dad might not have noticed, and heck, maybe even Maddie, but you look like you're having a hell of a hangover."

"Well, I'm not," I say.

"Then tell me what's going on," he demands.

"𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑛, 𝐼 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑡"

"Just drive," I say.

....

Once I arrive at school, I grab my bag and reach for the car door.