Chapter 18 : What Did He Want from Me?

Naturally, I hardly got any sleep.

After tossing and turning the entire night, I dragged myself up to get ready for the day. Contrary to the pretty girl I saw in the mirror yesterday before the party, I flinched at the reflection of a messy face with pale skin and the dark shadows beneath my eyes, even though I was still in the same dress that Avery made for me.

I spent several minutes running a comb through the bird’s nest on my head before Avery knocked on the door.

“You better have a good explanation for why you didn’t come … Claire, you okay?”

I wasn’t shocked when Avery demanded where I had gone last night. I did break my promise to her.

“I’m so sorry, Avery. I suddenly didn’t feel very well and decided to come back and take some rest.”

Of course, I was too ashamed to tell her about me and Jared in the watch house, but what I told her wasn’t a complete lie either, especially with the tears and nausea from the night before.

She looked me up and down, her expression softened, and h