5

Maya

Edz drops onto our couch and shoves her laptop onto my lap. “This is your chance!”

“What is?”

She pauses the TV, interrupting my binge marathon ofThe Duke Who Seduced Me.

I read the email before putting her laptop on the coffee table. “No way. Not happening.”

“Hear me out—”

“No.”

“Yes! You’re going to listen to my argument without interrupting me. You owe me that much as your best friend and personal chef.” She wags her finger in the same way my mom does.

“My stomach might love you but my thighs sure don’t.”

She only glares at me.

I cross my arms. “Fine. I’ll give you a chance.”

She readjusts her tiny bun. “Okay, so I get why you’re hesitant. I’d be too if someone betrayed me like Jeff did.”

“Do we really need to bring up Jeff?” A cold feeling seeps through my chest, chilling…