Chapter 168

Dad grumbles something under his breath, and disappears into the dining area to order a root beer float. He’s trying to give me some privacy with my friends, which I appreciate, but every now and then his eyes flick our direction.

“Win some for Burberry Prep this year, okay?” I say, because once I took my revenge, and crossed his name off my list, I was done. There’s no point in beating a dead horse, and I trust that Zack’s learned a lesson he’ll never forget. I didn’t take revenge so I could gloat about it, or roll around in the blood of my enemies the way Harper might. And now that it’s over—with these guys anyway—I’m ready to start down the path of forgiveness.

Ask anyone: forgiveness is a much harder path than revenge.

That much I know for sure, because seconds later, the door opens and in walks Jennifer with a cluster of balloons in hand.

My heart turns to ice, plummets into my belly, and shatters into shards. I feel sick.

“Hi …” Miranda starts, lo