Little White Lies by Jessica Burkhart

once.”
    â€œLet’s.”
    We grabbed our tack boxes and led Charm and Jack side by side down the aisle.
    â€œWe haven’t had time to hang out at
all
,” Callie said. “It’s just wrong.”
    â€œI know. We’re BFFs. It’s a rule that we have to see each other more.”
    The sun was just starting to set as we reached the side pasture and tied the horses’ lead lines to the pasture rail. I loved the campus this time of day—it looked softened by the fading light and it felt less crazy, less intimidating than usual.
    â€œPaige was telling me about Ryan,” Callie said. “She’s so shy about him—I’m not used to seeing her like that.”
    I grabbed a dandy brush. “I know! It’s so cute—she’s a mess around him. Paige gives the best guy advice, but she’s
so
nervous around Ryan,” I said. “She really likes him a lot.”
    â€œWe have to help her,” Callie said, combing Jack’s tail.
    â€œI’ll probably try to talk her into asking him out if he doesn’t ask her soon. She should go for it. Why wait for him?”
    Callie nodded. “Totally.” She went back to grooming for a few minutes before looking at me. “I know exactly how we can get them together!”
    â€œHow?” I bent down to brush Charm’s right foreleg.
    â€œWe just said that we haven’t had much time to hang out, so why don’t we
all
go out? Like a group date—very casual. You and Eric, Jacob and I, and Paige and Ryan.”
    I stopped in mid-brush stroke. “Uh—”
    â€œIt’s perfect!” Callie said, practically bouncing up and down. “We can go to The Slice or something and it’ll be a no-pressure thing for Paige to invite Ryan to.”
    I was glad Callie couldn’t see my face behind Charm’s leg. This was the worst idea
ever
! Eric and Jacob hated each other. I didn’t want to be around Jacob. Paige knew nothing about what was going on and neither did Callie. All of us together was the last thing I wanted!
    â€œIt would be fun,” I said slowly. “But … wouldn’t things be a little uncomfortable between Jacob and Eric? They really don’t like each other.”
    Callie dropped Jack’s comb in her tack box and picked up a body brush. “I think they’ll be cool. Jacob knows it’s important to me that you and I get to hang out and you know Eric thinks the same. If they really care about us, they’ll just deal.”
    I started to argue, but Callie’s smile made me stop. She really wanted us to all go out. After all I’d done to her—everything she didn’t know about—she deserved to have what she wanted.
    â€œOkay,” I said, forcing a grin. “We’ll do it. But only if Paige wants to. I don’t want to freak her out or anything.”
    â€œDeal. Ask her tonight. We’ll plan for Friday!”
    Callie didn’t stop talking about our group date until we went off to our separate dorms an hour later.
    When I got to my room, Paige was working at her desk. “Have fun with Callie?” she asked. I’d texted her earlier to say I was staying late at the stable.
    â€œSo much fun,” I said. “And Callie had an idea that I’m supposed to run by you. But you can totally say no and I’d understand if you did.” I kept rambling. “I told her you’d probably say no and she would completely get it.”
    Paige put down her pen, tilting her head a little. “What idea?”
    I crossed my fingers that Paige wouldn’t want to go. “Callie wants us all to go out on a group date to The Slice. Jacob. Eric. Me. Callie. You.” I paused. “And Ryan.”
    Paige looked down at her open math book. She was going to say no. There’s no way she’d—
    â€œOkay,” she said, jumping up from her seat. “I’ll ask! I’ll just