Page 34 of Deceit

He begins talking with Asher about his grades and I tune out slightly, allowing myself to people-watch. I stop on Maggie, or at least I think it’s Maggie. No way is my all black, all the time edgy, friend wearing a Pepto Bismol pink dress. Her red hair clashing with the dress as hard as her fake grin is cracking.

A good looking man and woman are on either side of her, introducing her to a handsome guy around our age. I think I have economics with him, actually. His name is Seth or Sean, something like that. He leans in, pressing his lips to her cheek in a greeting kiss and I don’t miss the way she practically cringes. Oh no, are her parents trying to set her up? With a man, no less? Do they not know? No, they have to know. She wears it loud and proud.

My brows furrow and I take a half of a step to move towards her when her eyes catch mine, subtly shaking her head as if to call me off. I frown but nod, turning back to see my father and Christopher deep in discussion. Their eyes swing to Asher, seemingly sizing him up, before Ronan steps into the group.

“Excuse me, brother. I wonder if I might show Skyla the gardens.”

Christopher grins, like it’s the best idea he’s ever heard before he nods.

“Excellent idea, Ronan. Thank you.”

I watch as Christopher turns away from me brushing me off dismissively before he begins speaking to Asher in hushed tones, my father sending me a withering glance before he’s listening and speaking as well.

I take a few steps with Ronan, before my feet slow as curiosity gets the best of me. I want to stay and listen to what they’re saying. Based on Asher’s face, it doesn’t look good. A warm strong hand is pushing me forward, though.

“Keep moving, face forward,” Ronan says as he continues walking, practically dragging me along with him.

I do as he says, turning around as we weave through the large home. A few people greet Ronan, but he’s quick to dismiss them until we make it out to a balcony at the back of the house. My breath is nearly stolen when I see a maze of rose bushes expanding over a large chunk of the backyard. You can see just the tip of what looks to be a large fountain, before everything else is hidden in the privacy of the bushes.

Ronan’s hold on me continues as he ushers us down the stairs and to the front of the maze. We enter wordlessly and he doesn’t speak until we take our first turn.

“Are you okay?”

My brows dip at that, my heels slightly sinking into the grass as we walk.

“Yes, why?”

“I told you not to be interesting.”

I look up at him as I shake my head.

“I wasn’t.”

“You were, I could see it in his eyes. He’s intrigued by you already and that’s not a good thing.”

Shrugging, I take the left turn in front of us first, moving us deeper and deeper into the garden.

“Well, I don’t know what to say. He seems…nice enough.”

Ronan stops in his tracks, his face stoic and unmoving as he speaks.

“No, he doesn’t.”

I smile sadly, shaking my head as I continue walking.

“No, he doesn’t.”

His steps continue after me, and we don’t speak again until we stop in front of the fountain. I move over to the ledge, sitting down on it before turning to watch the water flow. Ronan takes a seat beside me, his eyes on me the entire time.

My gaze moves from the fountain to him, watching as his forearms rest against his thighs.

“So, what’s this party for anyways?” I ask.

His eyebrows furrow at that as he tilts his head to the side.

“No one told you?”

I shake my head.

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