Page 52 of Wanna Bet?

"I'm serious." Ellis scrunched his brows.

"You think I don't know that?" Myah shouted, leaned away from him.

"Myah—" Ellis’s face softened.

"No." She stood abruptly from the couch. "I already know I screwed up, okay?"

Ellis stood too. "Then why are you getting mad at me for agreeing?"

"Because you're acting like I did this maliciously." Myah threw her hands up.

"You did make a bet about him."

"It wasn't like that."

"Then what was it like?"

Frustration burned through her. Because there wasn't a good answer. There wasn't a version of this story that made her look good. And she hated it. She hated being wrong and being judged. She hated that Ellis was looking at her with disappointment instead of understanding.

"It was supposed to be stupid," she snapped. "It wasn't supposed to become anything."

Ellis's expression softened slightly, but he didn't back down. "Maybe not." The gentleness somehow made it worse. "But Jace is my best friend."

The anger immediately started leaking out of her as she watched Ellis nervously grab at his own wrist. "He is one of the nicest people I've ever met, Myah."

Her throat tightened.

"He would literally give someone the shirt off his back if they asked. He shows up for everybody."

Each word landed harder than the last and Myah felt like her throat was closing.

"He doesn't deserve to be blindsided by something like this."

The fight drained from her completely. Because Ellis wasn't wrong. That was the worst part. He wasn't wrong. Jace deserved honesty. Jace deserved better. And suddenly all she felt was tired. Tired and ashamed.

Fuck, I’m literally the worst. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Her eyes burned. "I know."

The words came out small and barely audible.

Ellis was quiet for a moment before he crossed the room. Myah expected another lecture.

Another reminder of everything she'd already spent weeks beating herself up over. Instead, Ellis stopped in front of her.

"You know what I think?"

She laughed bitterly. "That I'm awful?"

"No." The answer came immediately. "I think you're an idiot."

Despite everything, a surprised snort escaped her.

Ellis nodded. "A spectacular idiot."

"Wow."

"But not a bad person."