Page 83 of It Started at the Lake

As if I weren’t in enough pain, acid burns my insides. I have to tell her the truth. Please don’t let her hate me and never speak to me again. “Bennett asked me to pretend to be his girlfriend to get you and Becca off his case. At the time, it sounded like a great idea. I’d keep my man-ban. He’d get some relief, and we’d get to do a bunch of fun summer activities. But two days ago, he admitted he’d fallen for me and asked me out for real. I should have said no.”

Evs scrambles away from me. “You guys lied? Because of me? Why didn’t he tell me to back off?”

I really don’t want to defend him right now, but she needs to understand where he was coming from. “The hot tub, Evie. Remember how hard you were on him? He tried telling you and you didn’t listen.”

She glares at me, her voice hard as she says, “And as my best friend, you decided to jump ship and help him instead?”

I put my hands on top of my head, grabbing at my hair. This is too much. I sniffle and swipe at my nose. “I felt bad for him, but it mostly was supposed to help me. I’m sorry, Evie. I shouldn’t have lied to you. Or agreed to go along with Bennett’s scheme to begin with. It was a stupid mistake. Please forgive me.”

She puts her hands out in front of her, backing up a step. “I can’t right now. I’m processing the hurt and betrayal of my best friend. My best friend who’s never lied to me before. You’re on your own for this one, Mils.” She spins and walks out of my room.

Why did I agree to come here this summer? I gave up on my man-ban, learned absolutely nothing about choosing Mr. Right, had the best kiss of my life only for the guy to think I was his wife, and now my best friend hates me.

Way to blow up your life, Mils.

CHAPTER 38

Bennett

“How is she?” I ask Evie when she storms out of Millie’s room. I’ve paced the hall waiting for an update.

She stabs in the direction of her bedroom, stomping past me. Following my cousin, she slams the door behind me. Leaning against it, she folds her arms across her chest. “Fake dating, Bennett? Really?”

“You guys weren’t giving up,” I defend myself. “It was the only solution I could think of.”

“First of all, grow a pair. You don’t need to turn to childish schemes to get us to back off.” Her hands wave all over the place, animated as she speaks. “Second, my best friend? Out of anyone, you target my best friend? She’s like a sister to me and you hurt her!”

“I didn’t mean to hurt her. And the reason I asked Millie is because I genuinely like her. The night I went out dancing was pure torture. I couldn’t stomach pretending with anyone else.”

“Not a good enough reason.”

“I felt backed into a corner and like I was out of options. I’m sorry we lied to you, really I am. But right now, I’m more concerned about losing the one person who’s made me feel seen and alive since Jen. Will you help me?”

She punches my arm. Hard.

“Ow!” I say, rubbing the spot.

She puts her finger right in my face. “If it were anyone else, the answer would be no. Because it’s Mils, and I love her, despite being mad at you both right now, yes I will help you. But if you do anything else to hurt her, you’re dead. Got it?”

“I got it.” Going to Evie’s bed, I sink onto it, covering my face with my hands. “My words got messed up.” Dropping my hands to my lap, I look Evie in the eyes so she can see I’m telling the truth. “I meant to tell Millie that was how I liked to be kissed, not that she knew that was how I liked it. Two little words and I’ve crushed Millie. How will she ever forgive me or trust me when I say I’m not thinking about Jen? Because I wasn’t. Millie was the only thing on my mind. I promise, Evs. I like her a lot. I didn’t mean to mess this up. What do I do? How do I fix this?”

I can’t believe I screwed up again. At least Millie’s alive. But I may as well be dead. This heaviness in my chest is more than I can bear. Another hope and dream of mine blown to smithereens. Will I ever get another chance at love?

“You’re absolutely, one hundred percent positive you didn’t think Millie was Jen?”

I cross the room, taking Evie’s palms into my own. “I swear to you, I didn’t. I need to fix this. She makes me laugh, Evie. She challenges, encourages, and supports me and wants the same things I do. She’s smart and beautiful. I can’t lose her.”

“I believe you.”

My shoulders sag in relief. “Thank you. Now, what do I do?”

“You’re going to have to wait until tomorrow, if not longer. She feels like you used her, which is what all the other morons she’s dated have done to her. Some distance and time are what she needs right now.”

Does Evs honestly think I can wait? I’m impatient. “Can’t I just say sorry? I don’t want her thinking I don’t love her.”

Evie shoves me. “You love her!?!”

I never thought I would after Jen, but being with her almost all day, every day, she wormed her way into my heart and won me over. Now when I think of Millie, my heart is full of sunshine and peace. Happiness and joy. When I wake up, she’s the first thing on my mind and the last thing when I fall asleep. Her dreams are now my dreams. “I know it seems fast, but I was clinging on to Jen too hard to see what was right in front of me. But, yeah, I do.”

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