Page 84 of Little Lies

“Say yes, I promise you won’t regret it.”

Tully rolled her eyes, propped the five books she held on her hip, and stopped walking so she was facing him. “Fine.”

“If there is one thing in this world that I believe in, it’s that you will pass this exam with the highest score. This time next week, when you see your perfect score, you’ll be kicking yourself for not believing in yourself as much as I believe in you right now.”

Tully blinked. Her heart stuttered.

Words. They were just words. What could a few simple words do to her?

A lot. They could do more than she wanted to admit.

Her earlier interaction with Joliet was background noise in her head, Nathan’s words taking center stage. A spotlight made it hard to see anything else but him, leaning through the shelf and smiling at her.

She turned so he was out of her peripheral, and walked straight ahead.

“Ignore me now, but you’ll realize I’m right later, angel,” he called, and a group of students walking by saw her and whispered something to each other. She sighed, and yet, she couldn’t stop that damn smile.

“Whatever you say, Rondeau.”

thirty-nine

tully

“Well?”

Tully jumped, surprised by the sudden question next to her ear the second she stepped out of the classroom. “Christ. Were you waiting for me out here?” She hadn’t seen him since the library the day before.

Nathan adjusted the bag strap on his shoulder. “I was curious how your exam went earlier.”

Tully huffed. Despite all the worrying and fretting over it all, she’d gone into her class and come out wondering what she was so worried about in the first place. She glided through that as easily as swimming downstream.

Nathan was right after all. She did feel like kicking herself for doubting so much. Sometimes she just thinks too much about things and makes herself worry too much. Plus, since nothing arose from her suspicions against Jolie, maybe she’d been overthinking that too. “I think it went okay.”

“See,” Nathan nudged her gently with his shoulder, she wore his purple letterman jacket just like every other Friday. “I told you so.”

“Shouldn’t you be getting ready for your game?”

“I’ve got some time, I can help in the library for a little bit,” he said.

“How very—”

“Tulsa Harding.” Both of them paused and looked toward the new voice. Ms. Hill, the guidance counselor approached. Tully raised a brow. She knew Ms. Hill, but since she never had any issues, she’d never talked to her before. She shot Nathan a glance, and he shrugged.

“Yes?”

“Can I see you for a moment in my office?” Ms. Hill stopped in front of the couple.

“Is something wrong?”

Ms. Hill lifted her lips but it wasn’t a calming smile. Tully’s fingers squeezed around her books.

“It won’t take long.” That wasn’t a no.

Tully hesitated then pivoted to Nathan. “I’ll see you at the game, alright?” He nodded, and stayed while Tully followed Ms. Hill in the opposite direction.

No one paid her any attention as they walked through the hallway. There was the possibility it was nothing to worry about, but that sense of dread she thought was over told her otherwise.

They reached her office and she opened her door. “Right in here.”

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