Page 84 of Twisted Lies

She shakes her head. “Rich men are rich because they are cheap. He was testing your boundaries. Did you give him back his money?”

I shake my head.

She nods, looking down her nose at me. “Good, never give back anything. But next time, ask for diamonds. It’s classier.”

The door opens before I can respond, and Bryce walks into the room, shutting the door behind him as if he had been invited back in. Rawlins stares at him in amazement, but the lines in the corners of her mouth start to appear as she tightens her jaw.

“Someone did break into her room,” he says, “they put her up to it.”

Dr. Rawlins lowers her eyes and folds her hands on her desk. For a minute, she has to think of how to respond to this revelation. She’s probably never had to deal with this shitstorm before, but maybe she has. I can’t be the only illegitimate kid attending Stonehaven.

“Astrid, the truth is more complicated than it appears,” she replies coolly. “I would like you to file a report about the break-in, and we will be increasing security in the dorms.”

My eyes widen. Added security means curfew will be enforced. “That’s not necessary, Dr. Rawlins,” I reply, “It was a prank. They have a secret club,” I reply, “the girls in the dorm. It’s a task to sneak a boy into your room. I needed to do it, so I lied.”

“So, you both made this up,” she replies.

I’ll never get a break with this woman, so I might as well fling myself into the depths. “Yes, it was a practical joke, and Roni got freaked.”

Rawlins rolls her eyes at Bryce but digs her fangs into me. “Next time something happens and your name is attached to it,” she says, “you better hope I don’t kick you out of this school. Your father won’t be able to talk me out of it. I’m watching you, Astrid. So don’t…mess up.”

For a brief second, I thought she was going to say fuck. Dr. Rawlins’ lips tremble as she walks briskly to her office door and flings it opens. “Out—the two of you. Go directly to class.”

Bryce waits for me to stand, and he tries to take my hand. I pull it away, but he tries again as we hurry out of the office, past Rawlins’ livid glare. It becomes a game, him grabbing my hand and me yanking it away as we walk down the hallway. He won’t make me smile.

Once outside, I hurry down the steps toward the path, but Bryce grabs hold of my waist and pulls me against him. We struggle on the path into Foxworth House, and I wonder if Dr. Rawlins is watching from the window as his lips crash against mine.

“Get off of me.” I slam my fists into his chest. “Leave me alone.” I hurry away without running.

“I can’t leave the daughter of Dr. Elliot Howland alone.” Bryce grabs my hand, and I can’t get it out of his tight grip. “You held out on me, Astrid.”

He levels his gaze, and I’m caught again. If he was a fucked-up incel or some asshole with an addiction, I could harden my heart. No, I wouldn’t, not after taking care of Mom for all those hard years.

“What the fuck is going on?” I hiss. “Why am I always out of the loop?”

“Walk with me,” he says, his fingers tangling in mine, “and we’ll figure your life out.”

Class is in session, and the entire campus belongs to us as we walk across the perfect green lawn, ignoring the path. The only people that can see us walking hand in hand would be daydreaming out the window. I relax and let Bryce hold my hand though I wish it was Wyatt. He still won’t speak to me. I glance over at Bryce while he watches me, and I catch a rare look of concern. He gives my hand a gentle squeeze.

“Astrid, I do want to help,” he says, “People should not mess with you.”

I scoff. “Because I’m a Howland. Were you in my room?”

“No.” Bryce looks away. “I’m sorry about that night. I shouldn’t have done that to you. And I knew who you were before. Charlotte told me.”

Unfortunately, I believe him. “How long have you known?”

Bryce sighs, holding firmly to my hand. “Since her mother’s funeral. In a jealous moment, she revealed your father’s name and now regrets it. Charlotte and I have been having trouble despite our closeness. I don’t really think of her romantically anymore. Maybe because we grew up together here at Stonehaven. I had hoped to end it peacefully, but instead, Charlotte accused me of cheating. I didn’t realize how hard she had fallen for me.”

I waver on forgiveness but have to know more. “I was really hurt that night,” I tell him, “And what is going on at the Pit?”

“That was Pierce’s idea,” he replies, “The problem with gambling as a business is sometimes people don’t pay their losses. Pierce hit on the idea of micro-transactions. A person that owes several grand will still spend a few dollars for some other entertainment.”

“It isn’t right,” I whisper.

“Astrid, it isn’t what it appears.” Bryce stops walking and holds onto my hand. “There’s a bigger plan.”

I lower my head. “That you won’t tell me.”

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