Here Comes the Light (Cambrooke #1) (24 page)

My phone chimes and Nova’s face flashes across the screen.
“Nova.” I say.

“You can get it.” He says with a mouthful before taking another drink. “Just because I am here you don’t have to ignore your friends.”
He nods. Though I am not sure I consider Nova a friend.

“Hey.” I answer.

“So I really need a mall buddy today.” She gushes. “We haven’t hung out in like for-ever.”  She drags out the word forever. I watch Declan as he eats even more. How is it even possible that he is that skinny?

“I am hangi
ng out with D right now.” I say as I smile over at him.

Declan wipes his mouth off with a napkin. “If Nova wants
to hang out with you, go. We’ll see each other later.” He says.

“The boyfriend doesn’t mind.” Nova says obviously hearing him. I sigh.

“When do you want to go?” I ask.

“I am ready now.”

“Well I’m not give me a least another hour. You can help me pick out something for my hot date tonight.” I say as I smile at Declan. He raises his eyebrows and smirks at this.

“Great I will see you then.” She says with a squeal I have to hold my phone away from my ear to avoid hearing loss.

Declan stands. “Zeke! We got to go.”

“Awe.”
Isaac whines.

“You guys can stay and swim.” I tell him.

“I got a hot date tonight.” He winks, “I need to get home and get my beauty sleep.”

“D, you are such a dork.” I giggle as I
swat at him.

“But you love me anyway.” His smile is wide when he says this. I just laugh and shake my head as I make my way into the house.

“I’
m so glad you came. I miss hanging out with you.” Nova gushes as we stroll down the center of the mall. “So tell me about you and Declan.”

“We just recently are more than friends.” I say.
“He is taking me on our first official date tonight, but Nova he says the sweetest things to me and he makes me laugh.”

“You’r
e probably the happiest I have ever seen you.” She says glancing at the window behind me. “Sale!” she says grabbing my arm pulling me into the store. “I love that outfit.” She says gushing at the mannequin as she strides towards it. The mannequin is wearing tiny white shorts and a silky flowing orange top with a chunky gold necklace.

“I have to have this.” She says as she looks for her sizes. I push through the racks as Nova tries on the outfit. My mind wonders to Declan I think about where he might take me tonight and what incredible boyfriend stuff
he is going to say to me.

Nova prances out and models the outfit in front of t
he three-way mirror. “It looks great.” I tell her.

Nova smiles
, “I have to get it don’t I?”

“Well you don’t have to, but I think you should.” I guess Nova is just used to Jess telling her what to do. I’m not going to do that. “Listen you are alright with Hudson and I being together, right?” she asks.

What brought this on? “Yeah, I am actually pretty crazy about Declan, why?”

“I don’t know.” She sighs as she continues to look at a rack of clothing still wearing the mannequins outfit. “It just seems like things have gotten kind of awkward lately between us.” I want to tell her that Hudson isn’t the only reason things are awkward. Jess also is a big reason.

“I just don’t want to see him hurt you.” I say nonchalantly. “He cheated on me with Jess.”

“He didn’t.” she shakes her head and looks up at me with all seriousness on her face.

“What?” my hand hovers above a hanger I was about to push. “I caught him with her in his bed.”

Nova frowns and tilts her head. “Jess set that up. She slipped him something in his drink at that party and drove him home.  She was mad at you and wanted to hurt you. She knew he wouldn’t cheat on you willingly.”  So
he didn’t cheat on me. My heart races, he tried to tell me that morning when he showed up and saw Declan. My mind can’t help but think maybe Declan was in on it as well, but I quickly erase that thought.  “I am sorry Miley. I thought you knew. I hope this doesn’t change things now.”

“It doesn’t.” I go back to looking at the clothing, “Declan and I are so much better together than Hudson and I ev
er were.”

“Well
gots lots more to try.” She hugs the armload of clothes to her. “Be right back.”

Suddenly, I am no
longer in the mood to shop. I have plenty of clothes I can wear.  I still push through the rack but I can’t stop thinking about Jess. Hudson didn’t choose Jess over me and if Declan wasn’t there we might have gotten back together that next morning, but what I told Nova is true. Declan is much better for me.

“Miley, right?”
I pause and slowly turn to see the snotty red head from church yesterday.

“Yeah?”
I say like a question.

“Are you with Declan?” she turns and pushes clothes her question casual.

“Why is that any of your business?” I glare at her.

She shrugs. “It’s probably not, but I just wanted to be a friend and warn you about him.” she turns back towards me a smug look on her face she looks me up and down. “Since he messed things up with me I guess he had no choice but to go slumming.”

“What do you mean?” I snap. “He told me he turned you down.” Obviously this is the reaction she wanted from me.

“He is telling that lie again?” she laughs slowly as she pulls a top off the rack and examines it.  “I just wanted to tell you girl to girl, that boy can’t be trusted. He is a player just looking for another notch in his belt.”

My head spins as I think about everything he has said to me. It makes sense now, no guy is really that nice he was just trying to get me to let my guard down so I would sleep with him. Maybe he really was working with Jess to break Hudson and I up for good. There is no going back now.  Hudson is with Nova. The walls suddenly feel like they are closing in on me now. I can’t breathe I barrel out of the store and then the mall until I finally crash down on the bench outside. I bury my face in my hands. How could I be so stupid? My life has been a big mess ever since the day Declan first spoke to me.

“Miley what happened?” Nova’s voice breaks through my thoughts. “I saw you running out when I came out of the dressing room.”

“Declan is a liar. He has been using me.” I sniff.

“Why do you think he is a liar?”

“That red head in the store, he told me she liked him and he rejected her. But she had a different story.” I take in a deep breath. “He used her for sex.”

“And you believe her?” Nova deadpans.

“I don’t know.” I shrug, ignoring the stares I am getting for losing it right here in the middle of the mall. I wipe the tears from my cheeks with the heels of my hands. “I don’t want to get hurt again and if she is the one telling the truth. It is better things are over now, before…’

“Before what, Miley?
Before you fall for him? I think you already have.” I sniff again. She is right. I think I have already fallen. “I say she is the one lying. You should see the way he looked at you at the fireworks. I don’t think he is using you.” Nova stands up and tugs on my arm. “Let’s go call her bluff.

“What are we doing?” I say standing up beside her. She doesn’t answer me she just leads me back inside we walk to the food court where
Jaylynn is standing by a table of guys the guys are staring at her like they are ready to pounce her as she flips her hair and leans down just enough to expose cleavage.

“Hey Red.”
Nova shouts. I can’t believe I am standing here with non-confrontational Nova as she confronts Jaylynn. Jaylynn stands up straight and turns towards us. “Yeah you.” Nova waves her towards us. Jaylynn turns back to her table of admirers and says something before she makes her way over to us. They all watch her as she walks.

Jaylynn
looks down on me smugly. “Haven’t you heard enough about your boyfriend?”

“You’re lying.” I say crossing my arms in front of me.

She lets out a slow laugh and shakes her head as she reaches in to her pocket. “You need proof?” she types something into her cell phone and I look at Nova a little confused Nova shrugs. “I’ll just let you hear for yourself.”

She pushes another button and holds her phone up. “
Jaylynn,” I hear Declan’s voice coming out of the phone. “I am sorry I let things get out of hand.  I should have never let things go that far.” My mind is swirling around and my heart has fallen into the pit of my stomach. “We cannot do this would you please call me back so we can talk about it.”

How far did he let things go? He told me he was a virgin. Even if he didn’t lie about that he is still a liar, because he told me nothing happened.

Jaylynn turns her phone off and pushes it back into her pocket, “sorry for being the bearer of bad news. I just don’t want to see you get hurt like I did.” She says before stalking away.

“Miley, I am sorry.” Nova’s voice seems far away.

“I don’t want to shop anymore.” I am not sure if my voice even comes out or not.

“I don’t think I will ever trust another guy.” I huff as I pull the picture of Declan and I from his birthday off my vanity mirror. I toss it into my blue trash can. “They are all liars.” I huff.

Nova sits on my bed. “Miley, you are just mad at Declan, doesn’t mean they are all like that.”

“Leave me alone.” I snap as I turn towards her.

“I don’t want to leave you alone. I know what you do when you are upset and alone.” She looks towards my arms. I place my right hand over my left arm.

“I am not going to cut. He isn’t worth it.” I roll my eyes. Nova just looks at me with sympathy I don’t want her stupid sympathy. “Hudson came by here yesterday.”

“Why?” she asks softly.

“He wants me back.” I lean against my vanity as I watch her react with shock and hurt.

“You’re lying.” She protests. “You just want me to be miserable like you.”

“You know what I told him?” I step towards her. “I told him no, because of you. Not because of Declan, not because I didn’t want to take him back, because I didn’t want to ruin our friendship. He is a liar just like the rest of them!” I shout at her.

“Quit being so mean.”
Nova’s voice cracks when she says this.

“I am the one being mean.” I point to myself then let out a half laugh. “Hudson and I were together for two years and you stuck your claws into him the first chance you got.” I throw my arms out to my sides. My head is telling me to shut up now but I can’t stop.

“You said you were over him! I came to you first before anything happened. He was the one who came to me, Miley. I didn’t seek him out. He was upset about you wanted to know how to get you back and it ended up becoming more. I didn’t plan it.” She says as tears run down her face. I feel a slight twinge of guilt that I made her cry. I know it takes a lot for Nova to cry. She pushes herself off my bed and swings her purse over her shoulder. “No wonder you don’t have friends anymore.” She says as she makes her way to the door. “Go ahead and butcher yourself.” She chides before she slams the door.

I sink to the floor too emo
tionally exhausted to even reach for my box. I bury my face in my knees I really have no one. I am officially alone. I don’t even have Declan now.

Chapter 22

“W
hat are you doing here?” I sit up and cross my arms.

“I came for our date, remember?” He tilt
s his head with his fake concern. I stand and move away from him as he reaches for me. “Are you alright?”

“I’
m fine.” I chide.

“Are you mad at me?”
his voice is soft which only fuels my anger knowing that it is fake. I scowl. “What did I do?”

“What
really happened with you and Jaylynn?” I purse my lips and tilt my head waiting for answer.

He runs a hand through his messy blond hair. “What?”

“I heard a voicemail you left her.” I deadpan. “You said something about things going too far, how far did they go?” He tries to close the distance between us but I back away.

“Miley,” he sighs and shakes his head, “Remember the friend I told you about who killed himself?” he asks softly.

“What does that have to do with anything?” I snap.

“Well,
Jaylynn is his sister…” he lowers himself down on my bed like he is welcome or something. “We did kiss after the funeral; we were both down and a little vulnerable.” He looks down at the ground. “She thought… she wanted more.” He sighs. “She wanted to date me, but I couldn’t. She flipped out and started telling everyone in youth I used her for sex.” He finally looks back up at me. “But I swear I didn’t have sex with her. It was just a kiss and I regretted it ever since.”