Page 18 of Filthy Liar

The girls appearin my driveway, and I stare at them in shock. I didn’t expect to see them at all, let alone realize that any of them knew where I lived. I’m also not dressed for a party, but I can’t look away from them.

I’m frozen at my window, watching as they all pile out of an SUV, including another girl I haven’t met yet. I assume she's the one who they said worked at Sal’s Bar.

Blinking, I watch as they move toward my front door. I don’t know how they found me, but they’re here. They move as one unit, and I can’t help but stare at them in complete and total awe.

Then my doorbell rings.

My entire body jumps, and my feet even leave the floor at the sound. I expected it, anticipated it, and yet it scared the shit out of me. My feet carry me toward the front door before I even realize I’m moving.

Reaching for the knob, I twist it and tug the door open. I’m met with four smiling faces—three that I recognize from yesterday and one that is new.

“This is Kyle,” Spencer announces. “She’s the fourth in our group.”

Smiling, I reach out to offer my hand, but she doesn’t take it. Instead, she moves forward and wraps her arms around my shoulders, giving me a hug. I follow suit, hugging her back even though I’m pretty confused.

“It’s so nice to meet you,” she murmurs.

“It’s nice to meet you, too.”

A few moments later, they’re in my room, and my closet is being riffled through. I have four options for an outfit, and I’m stripped down and trying them on, one by one. There is a lot of humming, switching of tops and bottoms, and then it’s settled.

I’m left in a pair of short shorts and a low scooped-neck T-shirt that hugs every part of me and leaves not even an inch to the imagination. It’s not something I would usually wear. I actually bought the shirt as an undershirt kind of thing to wear an oversized flannel over. It was never meant to be worn on its own.

“You look amazing,” Shawn announces.

I almost laugh, but I don’t. Instead, I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I don’t look terrible. I could be a bit thinner. My boobs could be bigger. A lot of things could be… but they aren’t. Turning my head, I look over my shoulder at the women.

“It’s as good as it’ll get,” I say with a laugh.

“Oh, please,” Spencer says with a roll of her eyes. “You’re hot.”

“And you know it,” Ryan finishes.

Shaking my head, I can’t believe them, but it’s sweet. Reaching for my small handbag, I switch my things over and turn toward them. “Are we ready?” I ask.

“You don’t see it,” Shawn murmurs. “That’s okay. You will.”

“See what?” I ask.

She smiles, her gaze searching mine. “Just how beautiful you are. I didn’t think I was anything special either until I met my Elvis. I’ve never felt more beautiful in my own skin, and I’ve had two children. It’s all because of him.”

“My Grover makes me feel the same way. The confidence that fills me when he looks at me, when he touches me, is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before,” Spencer whispers. “It’s all I ever wanted.”

Their words, although they shouldn’t, fill me with hope. So much hope. Pressing my lips together, I think about them, then shift my attention to my reflection again. I can’t let myself hope. I tamp down the feeling. I can’t hope because I need to be strong enough to leave.

And if that man from yesterday even glances at me again, I might not leave. I might become consumed with false hope and stay. I can’t stay. I need to get out. I need to move on. I need to find myself. I need to figure out my life and be somewhere where nobody knows my name.

Nobody knows my family.

A place where nobody even sees me.

“I can take my own car,” I call out as we walk from the house toward the porch, locking the front door behind me.

“You’ll come with us. There will be a million people who can take you home,” Spencer says.

“If you even want to be taken home,” Ryan mutters under her breath.

I almost laugh, but I don’t. I’m sure I will be brought home. There is no way I would spend the night there, not even with that completely sexy hot guy. Not that he would give me the time of day… or night.

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