Chapter 59

I stood in front of my closet, staring blankly at the rows of clothes. Hailey, my best friend, sat on my bed, watching me with a concerned expression. My mind was a jumble of thoughts, with each breath I took calling out one name.

"Ellie, come on," she said, tossing a dress at me. "Put this on. We need to get ready for the party."

I rolled my eyes but caught the dress, the silky fabric slipping through my fingers. “We still have five hours.”

Hailey sighed, her eyes flashing with exasperation. “That's no time, besides, I need your help for my makeup.”

I nodded, forcing a smile. “Okay, fine.”

It had been a week since I'd last spoken to– and seen– Chase, and I was still trying to process everything. The lies, the secrets, the hurt. I thought I'd seen a glimmer of hope when he kissed me, but it was just another ploy to get me to forgive him.

The fact that he hadn't put in any effort to contact me, and he had purposely stayed away from the house was enough evidence that I might have been t