Diamonds Are Forever. Michelle Madow

been the same for me,” Damien replied. “He told me that he’s going through some stuff and that he needs space.”

      “But it’s been over a month,” Madison said. “He should be back in school. Or at least he should want to see his friends.”

      “Didn’t you have a fight with him before he left Savannah’s party?”

      “Yeah.” She looked down, unable to meet his eyes. She hadn’t told anyone the details about the fight, and she didn’t plan to. It was too humiliating. “But Oliver and I have been friends for years. One fight doesn’t change that.”

      “Depends on what it was about.”

      “It doesn’t matter,” she lied. “It was stupid.”

      “If you say so.” He popped another meatball in his mouth, looking off into the distance as he chewed. “But I’m worried about Oliver, too. I’d hoped he was at least talking to you.”

      “He’s not.” She sighed. “I hate this. I want to be there for him, but I can’t if he won’t even talk to me.”

      “I know what you mean,” Damien agreed. “I think that if by the weekend he’s still hiding out, we should go to his place and see what we can do.”

      “You mean go there and refuse to leave until he sees us?”

      “Exactly,” he said. “It’ll be easiest if we do it together. As a team. Unless you have a better idea.”

      “If I had one, I would have told you already,” she said. “That idea sounds as good as any. We might as well give it a shot.”

      “So we’ll do it this weekend.” He sipped his soda, watching her as if he was waiting for her to say something else. “Anyway, I’m glad you came over here. It’s been a while since we’ve hung out.”

      “After what happened last summer, you told me that things couldn’t go back to how they were between us,” she said softly. “I assumed you meant it, so I gave you space. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

      “Come on, Mads.” The use of the nickname made her heart ache. “I was angry at first, but you know me—I get over things fast. We’ve been friends for years, and while I used to want more, what you said to me in that hotel room was right—a relationship wouldn’t work between us.”

      “I’m sorry,” she said. “I know it came out mean when I said it. I’ve felt awful about it ever since.”

      “You definitely could have been nicer about it,” he said. “But what you said got me thinking. You have your whole life figured out. You’re ambitious, determined and independent. Which is all awesome...but me and you together would be a disaster. I want to be with someone who wants my help and support. Someone who still has ambitions of her own, but who looks up to me, and who I can be there for no matter what.”

      “You want someone who makes you feel needed.”

      “It sounds lame and old-fashioned when you put it that way, but yeah, pretty much,” he said. “And you’ve never needed me—at least not like that.”

      Madison blinked, amazed that this was all coming from Damien. Despite how long they’d been friends, he’d never struck her as particularly insightful. “You’ll find that person,” she said. “I know you will. But I’m glad you’re moving on.”

      “I’ve already moved on.” He smirked. “I did months ago.”

      “Right,” she said. “Of course you did.” Sometimes she forgot that while she’d been in a haze these past few months, everyone else’s lives had gone on without her. “So, who’s the lucky girl? Is it Savannah? Or that redheaded friend of hers you were flirting with at her party?”

      “I wasn’t flirting with Evie.” He ran his hand through his hair, exasperated. “Evie was in a corner alone, and she looked sad, so I went over to cheer her up because I felt bad for her. She took it the wrong way and threw herself at me. I tried letting her down easily, but Savannah saw us...and it turned into a mess.”