Page 29 of Veil of Lies

Tessa nodded. “Yeah, we should get back, sis.”

Savannah looked disappointed we weren’t staying. Her little face fell. “Aww honey, don’t be sad. I’ll be back next weekend to take you for ice cream,” Tessa promised as she wrapped her up in a tight hug.

“Pinky promise?” Savannah held her pinky finger out and Tessa completed the gesture.

“Pinky promise,” she agreed.

I smiled. They were too cute for words. Seeing how close they were made me wish I had a family. I would have loved siblings and an extended family growing up. People to share birthdays and special holidays with.

My life was so far removed from Tessa’s it was amazing we had formed a connection. It was obvious she wasn’t wealthy or privileged, so I assumed she was a scholarship student, although we hadn’t discussed it. If she knew the truth about me, I doubted she’d be so friendly.

“Would you mind if I took some photos of your hair for my social accounts?” Marie asked as we stood to leave. “Just a couple.”

Her smile fell when she saw the color leach from my face as panic flooded my system with adrenaline. “No!”

Marie took a step back in surprise and I fought to control my expression. She’d been so kind to me, I couldn’t bear the thought of offending her, but nor could I explain why I was behaving like a crazy person. My acting skills were atrocious, but I did my best anyway.

“I’m sorry, I hate photos of myself,” I lied, hoping she believed me. “I have a bit of a phobia about it.”

Marie’s face softened. “It’s OK, honey, I only wanted to post a couple of photos to show off my work to my followers. It’s not an issue at all.” She touched my arm and squeezed a little. Her sweet comforting gesture made my tears well up all over again and I brushed them away, cursing the fact my emotions were so close to the surface.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “You’ve been so nice and … I’m being stupid I know…”

“Not at all, honey.” She pulled me close and my body stiffened up in surprise. Being hugged was not something I was used to. My father didn’t do hugs. He rarely did physical affection at all.

“Relax, Stella,” Tessa scoffed. “We’re all huggers in this family!”

Savannah launched herself at my legs and clung on like a little spider monkey, giggling loudly. Laughter bubbled out of me and the tension in my body fell away until all that was left was an overwhelming sense of belonging. By the time Marie let me go, I was grinning like a loon.

“Nothing beats the power of a hug,” Marie said. “You know you’re welcome back anytime, Stella. As soon as the red starts to fade and you get roots, come on over for dinner and I’ll touch it up.”

“Yes! Please come back, Stella! You can play with my dolls!” Savannah bounced up and down, her black curls bouncing along with her.

“I can’t wait,” I told her with a smile, and she rewarded me with another hug. This time I relaxed into it and soaked up all the love like a sponge. It felt so damn good.

Chapter 25

Quinn

The library was half empty. I scanned the tables, looking for Stella like always, but there was no sign of her. A girl with bright magenta hair cascading down her back in loose waves caught my attention though. Hair that color wasn’t natural, but it was definitely striking.

I moved over that way, curious about who she was. The bag next to her chair looked familiar, and something about the way she tapped her pen on the table triggered a memory of Stella doing the exact same thing when she was lost in thought.

My foot knocked a trolley full of books as I weaved around the tables, making a clattering noise, and the girl turned around to check who was approaching her. Her eyes widened when she saw it was me and my jaw dropped. It was Stella, but not as I knew her. The vibrant red shade of her hair flattered her creamy skin and made her turquoise eyes pop, even with the glasses she wore.

She was stunning.

“Stella,” I managed to choke out.

“Hey,” she replied, a slight hint of vulnerability in her expression.

“You look…amazing,” I told her. “That color really suits you.”

Her cheeks flushed pink and she dropped her head, pretending to focus on her work. “Thanks,” she muttered.

I dropped down into the chair opposite her, but she avoided my eye.

“Is the laptop working OK?” I asked after a few minutes.

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