Page 91 of The Lodge

“She didn’t know until recently,” Tyler says, shifting ever so slightly to stand in front of me, as if his physical presence can protect me from Sebastian’s barbed words.

“How would I have told you, anyway?” I speak up, bolder now thanks to Tyler’s defense. “You couldn’t even be bothered to text me back—”

“I’m herenow,” Sebastian says, arms spread wide like he’s a gift to the universe. “I thought you’d like the surprise. Most girls would,” he says with a smirk.

Lauren snorts. “Wow.”

“It’s Riv who has some explaining to do,” Tyler goes on.

“Finally, something we can agree on,” Sebastian says.

River, who’s thus far been doing his best to blend in with the decor, pales under our collective attention.

“I, uh—listen,” River stammers. “There are some things I maybe should have done differently—”

“Maybe?” Sebastian interjects.

River clears his throat. “I should have done things differently,” he starts over. “But did either of you ever consider how hard it was to be in the group with the two of you? All I ever wanted was for everyone to get along. I never wanted to choose sides.”

Tyler sucks in a sharp breath. I don’t blame him—it would feel like a thorn in my side, too, if my lifelong best friend seemed torn between loyalty to me and my biggest rival.

“When you were at your breaking point,” River says, glancing at Tyler, probably sensing the exact same tension I am, “I chose you, Ty. I helped you disappear. And I’ve kept your secret for all these years, and I’ve never complained—but did you ever consider howhardit was to help you start over? To stay quiet while the whole world demanded answers? I’ve lied for you foreight years, and at first I told myself it was helping you, but—”

River runs his hands through his hair, eyes shifting to Sebastian.

“But Seb’s about to publish this, like, tell-all—and you guys hated each other, and everyone knew it, and I guess I was worried about what sort of stuff might make it into the book. When Seb reached out to see if Alix could write here for the month, it seemed like the perfect way—”

He breaks off, sorts out his words.

“I don’t know,” he starts again. “I guess it just seemed important for him to know the truth before everything went to print. Forbothof your sakes.” River’s gaze settles on Tyler. “It’s been hard watching you spend so many years alone, Ty.”

“I haven’t been alone,” he says, but his voice lacks conviction. “I’ve had you and Jules.”

“And it’s been a lot on us to be everything for you,” River replies. “We love you, don’t get me wrong. But we… wantmorefor you.”

“Well, I’m sorry I’ve been ‘a lot,’?” Tyler says with air quotes. It isn’t lost on me that he doesn’t argue with River’s implication that his life is missing something.

The very fact that he and I have gotten so close proves River’s point, honestly.

“You could have just told me,” Sebastian says sharply, “instead of setting us up for… whatever’s happening now.”

“Sorry, bro, but I wasn’t sure I could trust you to stay quiet,” River says evenly. “I thought maybe if you could just see each other—here, where there aren’t any paparazzi—you could have a chance to process everything and maybe talk it out a little.”

“Um, I hate to interrupt your little boy band confessional,” Lauren says, holding up her phone, “but, like… the paparazzi are kind of already here?”

Tyler shoots River a withering glare.

“What do you mean, they’re here?” River says, moving over for a better look at whatever’s on Lauren’s screen. From what I can tell, it’s a shot of Sebastian climbing out of a silver SUV at a resort that looks suspiciously like ours. “Seb?”

Sebastian raises both hands, a universalDon’t blame me.

“Not my fault they follow me everywhere,” he says like hecouldn’t care less. “It’s hard to lose them these days. They even found me in Tahiti. They must have tailed me last night.”

Every muscle in Tyler’s upper body looks tight, tense—like a headache in the making.

“I need a minute,” Tyler mutters, and before I know what’s happening, he’s slipped past me and back through his own front door.

He doesn’t let it close all the way, which I take as a sign that I could follow him if I wanted to.ShouldI follow him?

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