Page 59 of Little Lies

Of course, Tricia would do this. She knew more about Tully’s previous relationship than Tully did herself. Most of it was likely lies, crafted and distributed by Joliet based on whatever Erik probably told her during their however-long affair. Tricia also definitely knew that Joliet seduced him just to spite Tully. But this was Tricia she was talking about; so desperate to fit in with Joliet’s crew that she would have encouraged it the entire way.

The rest of them were looking at Erik, but Tully couldn’t bring herself to do the same. She had a choice: ignore it all, or look at him.

It was a toss-up, but the thought that she was the only one not looking seemed worse than looking did. She followed their lead and spun.

Indeed, Erik crossed the parking lot with a pack of his fellow wrestlers. He always thought that hanging with his team made him appear more popular, but wrestling was nothing to write home about in Richmond. If anything, it maintained his status at a solid middle ground.

She wasn’t sure if he was looking before everyone turned to stare at him, but he was now. He eyed Tully, and from a distance she couldn’t tell if it was a glare or a smolder. Or if he was looking at Nathan.

Either way, gag her. The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she was to have dated that douchebag. She’d avoided him enough that she’d forgotten how unflattering that stupid mullet was on him.

“You didn’t tell me you had an ex,” Kimmy said, like they were close enough to be telling each other things like that. Plus, it wasn’t like their relationship was a secret, just that neither one of them broadcasted it the way Kimmy and Tommy did. “Which one is he?”

“He looks familiar,” Tommy piped in. Of course he did. Everyone in this town looked familiar.

“They dated for, like, a year,” Tricia informed them all, and Tully glanced away from Erik to give Tricia a side-eyed glare. She pointed him out to Kimmy. “She was obsessed with him.”

Tully’s patience with this girl was disintegrating faster than cotton candy in water. “Six months,” she snapped. “And I wouldn’t call it obsessed. We dated. That’s it.”

“You know,” Tricia started, her fingers tapping her chin like she was trying to recall something. “I could have sworn I saw him and Joliet together like a month ago. It almost looked like they were on a date.”

Everyone went quiet. Kimmy looked confused, then her jaw dropped and her face scrunched in sympathy and mortification.

Tully’s shoulders tightened and her hands began clenching as embarrassment heated her skin. She was positive this was exactly what Tricia wanted.

Embarrass her. Make her smaller, less desirable than someone else.

Having everyone around you realize your boyfriend cheated on you with your much prettier, more popular, and more likable sister was not a pleasant experience.

She looked between them, wishing she could read their faces better. How many were pitying Tully, and how many of them were thinking;yeah, I can see why he would choose Joliet?

Tricia blustered cockily—as if she was the one who did something wrong. Even loud-mouthed Tommy didn’t know what to say.

She didn’t know what Nathan was doing though, because she couldn’t stand looking at him. But his hand on her back didn’t move. He didn’t even breathe after he sucked in a harsh breath.

She had to recover. Quickly.

The last thing she wanted was to be caught off guard in front of Tricia, who would relay it to Jolie, who would take advantage of any hint of weakness in any way she could imagine.

“Come eat lunch with us.” Nathan was faster. Nathan was always faster. It was probably obvious he was distracting from the newest, biggest elephant in the room and saving her from having to respond, but she was grateful nonetheless.

“Yes, that’s a great idea,” Kimmy agreed, but the sympathy in her voice was clear. “Any girlfriend of Nathan’s is a friend of ours.”

Was Kimmy trying to cover for her like Nathan? She didn’t seem that clever, but she’d underestimated her once already. She could be wrong again.

“Sure. Sounds fun,” Tully said and weakly returned Kimmy’s eager smile.

Tricia scoffed and began walking away, no longer waiting around as the bell rang.

“Jesus, what’s up her ass?” Tommy asked.

“Just ignore her. She’s been getting on my nerves,” Kimmy groaned as she hopped off of Nathan’s car. “Walk me to class, babe. See you guys at lunch.”

Kimmy linked her arm through Tommy’s and they were gone. Tully looked at Nathan. She hadn’t told him anything. Not entirely. Only bits and pieces of her reasoning for this arrangement. She shouldn’t be, but she felt ashamed.

“So, are you gonna ask?” She waited for his questions to bombard her.

Devoid of his usual joking or flirtiness, his jaw was set, his face oddly blank. “Do you want me to?”

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