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Chapter 15

The moment the front door closed behind Jenna, the quiet in the house hit me like a punch.

I was still in Jenna's room knees to chest rocking while also feeling her breasts against my knees when Jenna's phone rang

Makayla: I'm here
Jenna: I'll be right down

I walk down the stairs shaking a little until I get to the door and take a breath and open it and let Makayla in

"Hey girl you ready for tonight"

Yea, I can't wait

"I'll go get unpacked in your room"

Makayla was right upstairs, in Jenna's room, unpacking her sleepover bag, humming to herself. Completely normal. Completely unaware.

Meanwhile I was standing at the bottom of the stairs frozen, hugging Jenna's hoodie tight around my—well, around her chest, my heart beating like it was trying to crack a rib.

My mind spiraled instantly:

She left me. She actually left me.
I'm alone with Makayla.
She thinks I'm Jenna.
I can't survive this.

My palms were sweating. My legs felt like noodles. I leaned against the wall and squeezed my eyes shut.

"Okay, Jaden," I muttered under my breath. "Just breathe. Just... survive this until morning. She won't notice anything. Just act normal. Be Jenna. Be... girly—whatever that means."

But the more I thought about it, the worse it got.

What do girls even do at sleepovers?

I only knew what Jenna told me earlier:

* skincare
* hair stuff
* secrets
* laying close in bed

That last one sent a full-body shiver through me.

No. Nope. No way.
I couldn't do that. I couldn't—

"Jennaaaa?" Makayla called from upstairs, cheerful as ever. "Where'd you go? I found your fuzzy socks!"

I swallowed hard.

Okay. Time. To. Act.

I pushed myself off the wall and climbed the stairs, each step feeling like I was walking toward my own execution. When I reached the doorway to Jenna's room, I froze for a second.

Makayla had changed into comfy shorts and a big oversized tee. Her hair was pulled up in a high ponytail. She was barefoot, bouncing lightly as she arranged stuff on Jenna's bed.

And she smiled so warmly at me.

Not suspicious.

Not weird.

Just... normal.

"Finallyyy," she said, grabbing the fuzzy socks and tossing them toward me. "Put these on. They match your shorts."

I forced a laugh and caught them. "Oh. Uh... yay."

She raised an eyebrow. "You okay?"

"Yep!" I said way too fast. "Just... long day."

"That's why we're having fun tonight," she said brightly. "Sit. We're starting with skincare."

My stomach dropped straight through the floor.

Makayla sat cross-legged on the bed and patted the spot in front of her. I sat stiffly, like I was made of wood.

She grabbed a pink bottle of lotion from her bag.

"Okay, chin up," she said. "I'm doing your arms and shoulders first. You always get dry when you're stressed."

I almost choked.
I didn't even know Jenna got stressed-dry.