Page 51 of Not A Whisper

My bottom lip trembles. The sudden surge of defiance seeps away, leaving me vulnerable once more to whatever they have in store for me.

“So this has something to do with what transpired over lunch with him.” Jason drops his arms from his chest and plods toward us. “What did Garry say?”

Trip doesn’t look over his shoulder. He must’ve known Jason was nearby. His normal scowl intensifies as he steps closer to me—cutting down the small distance I managed to put between us.

“Whatever he said, it was a lie,” Trip says, his expression darkening until he looks murderous. He catches my face with his hand and forces me to look up at him. The arousal on his fingers presses into my skin—evidence of how much this young man can affect me. “Every word out of his goddamn is nothing but lies. The fact that we have to tell you this is?—”

“So Grant’s not engaged to some girl named Carmilla, and you haven’t been hiding it from me for him?” I yank my faceaway, out of his grasp. It’s easy to do. Surprise seems to have stunned Trip enough to forget he was even holding me.

His mouth opens and closes before he shakes off his shock. Why is he so surprised? Is it because I found out?

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he says at last.

“Don’t lie to me! I went onto Grant’s social media profile. I saw the pictures of them together and all the comments congratulating the two on their engagement, including yours!” My voice hitches as a single tear escapes. It rushes down my cheek as I glare at him then over his shoulder at Jason.

Trip’s scowl returns, this time more intimidating than before. Rather than direct it at me, however, he looks over his shoulder at Jason. His friend steps up to join us. The expression on Jason’s face is baffling because he looks just as bewildered as Trip. They trade looks for a moment before Jason is scowling too.

“Grant’s text,” he mutters to Trip who nods slowly, clearly deep in thought.

I don’t know what text Jason’s talking about and I don’t particularly care. With all three of them blocked in my phone now, I wouldn’t have received anything from them anyway.

Swallowing, I try to step around Trip. The movement catches both of their attention and brings it right back to me. Trip grabs my arm.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

“Home. Away from you.” I try to yank my arm free but I’m unsuccessful. “You know, after what you told me back in my hotel room all those months ago, I would’ve thought—” I choke on a sob I don’t let escape. I shake my head, clear my throat, and push on. “Whatever, it doesn’t matter. I told you. We’re done. I’m not doing this anymore.”

The fact that it was Trip who admitted his feelings to me first must’ve given me a false sense of security with them. He’snot an emotional guy. Drunk or not, his declaration of love did something to me. Solidified my own feelings and drove my desire to see this relationship through. Boy, do I regret that now.

Trip’s head tilts in confusion. “What are you talking about? What did I say?”

I simply hold his stare. There’s no way I can repeat the words even if I wanted to.

Trip’s face scrunches up. His mystification looks genuine. Maybe he doesn’t remember? It doesn’t matter.Iremember his words loud and l clear, despite how softly and earnestly Trip had spoken them.

Jason steps forward and reaches toward me. I flinch, hating the fluttering of my heart at the thought of his touch. His hand pauses before he finishes reaching up to wipe a rogue tear off my cheek that I hadn’t felt escape.

“Something is going on.” Jason’s jaw clenches. “We’ll get to the bottom of it. But Iswearneither of us know about this girl or what Grant’s doing with her.”

I laugh in disbelief. This time when I yank my arm from Trip, he lets me go.

“I don’t believe you. You’re with each other all the time and Isawyour comments!”

“Neither of us use social media, dollface,” Trip snaps before he rolls his eyes. “So for you to have seen anything is suspicious. Someone hacked our accounts.”

I scoff. “Oh yeah? Just to wish your best friend a happy life with his soon-to-be wife? How stupid do you think I am? No.” I hold up my hands. “You know what? Don’t bother answering that. Your opinions of me don’t matter anymore.”

Boy that lie is a doozy. Still, I hold strong to my glare and the outrage that’s being fueled by my heartache.

Trip and Jason exchange looks again. When Jason’sstunning hazel eyes land on my face, I have to suppress a shudder. It’s going to break me never to look into them again after this. The thought is painful.

Not as painful as finding out that they’ve been hiding another woman from me though.

“Did Garry say anything else?” he asks me, his voice low.

“Does it matter what else he said?”

Trip sighs loudly. “What did he say, dollface?”

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