Page 31 of Pulled Away

Piper’s voice floats through my head, Don’t allow him to see how much you’re hurting right now, girl.

“Why would I want to talk? Just friends, huh? You’re a lying bastard, Ryan.” My reply is icy, and I would have been impressed if I had room for it. Instead, it’s taking all I have to keep myself from breaking down.

His expression is a mixture of shock and regret. “I haven’t,” he insists, and I know it’s his desperation that has him uttering such a bold-faced lie.

“So Hadley was lying? You weren’t married?”

“No…we…I…” He looks at me helplessly as his voice fades away.

I huff a sarcastic laugh. “Yeah, no lie there.”

I stride to the door, beyond ready to get the hell away. To remove myself from the toxicity that’s become my life.

“Please, you’re running away again. Like last night.”

I spin around, fury coursing through me. “There’s a huge difference between running away and leaving because you don’t want to be somewhere. And make no mistake, I don’t want to be here with you. With her. With them,” I hiss, staring over his shoulder at Hadley who’s in the doorway not bothering to hide that she’s listening to us. “You’re right. We do need to talk. But you’re deluding yourself if you think any talking will happen while they’re here.”

“Just give me a minute. I’ll tell them to go,” he begs.

“And your ex-wife? You’re going to tell her to leave as well?” I can’t keep the derision out of my voice while keeping my eyes on her. If I had a million dollars I would confidently bet on the fact that, no he won’t.

He twists his upper body, taking in Hadley. “Fuck, fuck!” he shouts, jerking off his cap and shoving his hand through his hair. “Hadley, give us some privacy. We’re trying to have a conversation,” he grits out.

“No. Don’t bother,” I say to her, but my eyes are on Ryan. “I’m leaving. Again. You guys have fun.”

“Where are you going?”

I don’t bother to answer, slamming the door on my way out.

Everything is a blur, my mind racing as I drive to Piper’s place; my body on autopilot. I think I’m in shock, honestly. Of all the things, I didn’t see this coming. My anger at Ryan and the situation he’s put me in has reached volcanic levels, and at least the fury is keeping my eyes dry.

For once, the universe is on my side and Piper’s home, smiling when she sees me, but it drops like a stone when she sees my face.

“Did you know?” I ask, my eyes sliding past her and zeroing in on Rose, scrutinizing her expression.

Her eyes crinkle in confusion, her smile dropping at my biting tone. “Know what?” she asks carefully.

“About Ryan and Hadley.”

I feel like I can’t breathe while I wait for her answer. If I find out Rose has been keeping such a big thing from me, that she knew… That everyone but me knows… I’m not sure I can handle it.

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“That Ryan and Hadley were married.” Or still is. At this point, I know nothing anymore. They’re all liars.

Her face slackens in shock. “What do you mean, married?”

“As in ‘Do you take so and so, yes, yes, get to the good parts so we can fuck off to our dorm room and have marital sex,’ married.”

“Get the fuck out,” she breathes, sinking on the couch. “That’s not possible. I would have known. Are you sure?”

“Wait. Who told you this?” Piper says.

“Hadley,” I mutter, sitting next to Rose and dropping my face in my hands. At least I’m not the only one that was kept in the dark.

“You can’t believe anything she says,” Rose spits out. “I warned you she’s a bitch.”

“Ryan didn’t deny it,” I say in defeat, my shoulders slumping.

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