The only reason I agreed to keep my mouth shut is because Jane promised me it was over. She promised me that she would stop hooking up with Declan and that she wouldn't hurt Spinner anymore. I looked her dead in the eye when she made that promise. If there's one thing I'm good at, it's knowing when I'm being bullshitted. She seemed sincere enough for me to keep up my end of the bargain—to not tell Spin.

Today, that wasn't going to be so easy. When I got into work. Spin told me Jay was going to drop by when he left the garage. Most of the time, I like having Jay around. I will never let him know that, but I like that he speaks his mind. Anyone who knows me can tell you that I'm the same way, even when what's on my mind isn't always the nicest thing. Jay isn't afraid of, well, anyone. He bites back.

If I'm not having a good day I know I can make fun of his car, his Manny obsession, or his dumb hats. I also knew that I'd have to hear all about dating guys who are named after colors, how much he used to want to bang my sister, or my terrible service. On that day, he walked into the Dot and immediately got to work.

"Yo, look who it is! Freckles, to what do I owe this honor?"

"I'm working, Spaz. What's your excuse?"

"Now I need an excuse to hang out with two of my best friends."

"Oh, I didn't know Mommy and Daddy were here!"

"Funny, J. Where's your boy, Purple?" he said with a smirk. My shift had barely started and he was already trying to push my buttons.

"Funny, Jay. I couldn't care less," I told him as I tilted my head and shot back the same smirk.

"Oh, so it's like that?"

"It's like that. We broke up. He got weird. You know me, I don't deal well with that."

He didn't really strike a nerve or anything. Blue wasn't the guy for me. He wanted some superhero Holly J and I most certainly wasn't cut out to save anyone these days. I gave him a chance and let him see the real me. Blue just didn't like that real me and there was no point in wasting time trying to conform to the me he wanted. I'd be okay.

"Guy seemed like a pansy, anyway."

That was Jay Hogart's own special brand of sensitivity. It doesn't come around often, so you have to appreciate it when it does. I gave him a half-smile and passed a glass of soda across the counter.

I started to zone out when he and Spin started talking about cars, catalytic converters, and other guy topics. I didn't feel left out or anything. Sometimes guys need their guy time and I had enough things on my mind to keep myself occupied.

I only focused back in when I saw the last person I wanted to see walked through the door. Declan. Immediately, I checked on the few other tables that had customers and began cleaning dishes that didn't need to be cleaned. Looking busy became my first priority in that moment. Unlikely as it was, I secretly hoped he would catch the vibe and just go away.

It didn't take long for Spinner to give me a skeptical glance. I flashed him a toothy smile and pretended not to notice our newest patron.

"J, can you go take his order? He's waiting on Jane. They're working on that school theater production thingy," Spin told me.

I groaned, not caring if Declan or Spin heard it. I walked over to where Declan was sitting. I tried to let my eyes do the talking. "Don't mess with me," the words echoed in my head.

It was funny. When I first met him, I couldn't help but think how classically good looking he was. Now, I couldn't find him more repulsive.

"Do you want something?" I asked him, monotonously.

"Wow, you've got a little spunk in you today, don't you?" Declan said with a wink.

"I'm not here for smalltalk. Do you want something or not?"

"Well, I wanted you over here and now I've got it."

"I'm taking that as an 'or not'."

I walked back to the counter and sat down next to Jay. He'd watched the whole thing.

"Damn, Holly J. What was that?"

"Nothing. Just shut up."

Declan motioned for me to come over again. I was more than done with his games, at that point. I couldn't possibly look at him any longer, never mind engage in whatever conversation he was trying to make. Spinner looked up from the milkshake he was making and asked me what had happened.

"Nothing. Spin, honestly, I don't feel all that great. You know, that big I've got a math exam tomorrow headache is starting to kick in. Do you mind if I check out a little bit early?"

Spinner squinted and looked at me skeptically.

"I thought you said you had that one in the bag."

"I did. I mean, I do, but..."

At that moment, Jane walked in. Spinner and Jane had their couple-y hello while Jay looked at me as if I was completely insane. He knew something was up. When Jay knows something is up, he doesn't rest until he's got all the details.

"Holly J, hey! I've got this great idea, I think we can expand the business. Mia was telling me about Izzy's school, and I think we should start to bring in some business from the kids over there. Lunch, tomorrow?"

"Hey. Yeah, sure. Sounds great!" I said, trying to hold any contempt from my voice. I didn't know how Jane could act so normal. It was like nothing had even happened.

"Good. Tomorrow then," she said as she made her way over to Declan's table.

"J, do you really want to go?" Spinner asked, as he turned back to me.

"Yeah, Spin. I do."

Jay sipped on his soda and watched our conversation unfold. He could see right through me. I was surprised everyone hadn't. I'm a horrible liar.

"What's wrong, J? You've been acting really weird the last few days."

"Spin, I told you. I'm just kind of stressed out about school."

"Okay, go ahead. It's not that busy right now, anyway. For the record, I'm still not buying it. In fact, I think someone is a little more upset about their ex-boyfriend than they are letting on."

I gave a half-smile that neither confirmed or denied anything that he was saying. If he wanted to think I was still hung up on Blue, all the better. At least it gave me an excuse to get out of this explosive environment.

"I can see it in your eyes, everything you're hiding. I can see the truth in you, even when you're lying."