Page 38 of Tangled In Lies

I swear to you, if Phoenix or The Thing lays a hand on you, I’ll murder them. I know people who can make bodies disappear.

Holden snorts behind me, reading over my shoulder. “The Thing? I like it.”

Mason

I’ll help.

Evie

No, everything’s fine, guys.

Ruby

I don’t care if Phoenix looks like a Greek god with tattoos, or if he has this whole bad-boy vibe down to a T, he will not get to keep you there against your will and force you to throw away your future to marry him.

Evie

He’s not that bad, I promise. This is new, so it’ll take some getting used to, but I’m sure it’ll all turn out okay.

“What the fuck?” Holden says.

My sentiment exactly.

I read Evangeline’s message repeatedly until my stomach churns, then stare over my shoulder at Holden. “They don’t know what she did.”

He scrubs a hand over his face and blows out a breath. “You think she didn’t tell them?”

Another message pops up.

Mason

Ruby, weren’t you the one who tried to get Evie to make a move on Phoenix when we were younger?

Ruby

Well, yeah. And I still stand by the fact they’d make the prettiest babies, but a lot of shit happened. We liked him back then, and now we don’t. Right?

When Evangeline doesn’t answer right away, I check the computer. She’s still lying on her bed, but now she’s pressing her face into the pillow. After a few seconds, she picks up her phone again.

Evie

Maybe he’s not the bad guy after all, so let’s give him a chance. And please, guys, let’s keep everything that’s going on between Phoenix and me between the three of us. No one else.

Mason

Fine.

Ruby

You got it.

Evie

Thank you! Okay, guys, I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m exhausted and off to bed now. Love you.

Holden huffs. “Fuck. That was a plot twist I didn’t see coming. If she didn’t even tell her best friends, does that mean she kept this a secret from everyone?”

I stare at the computer monitor and follow Evangeline’s every move as she puts her phone away and gets off the bed to walk to the bathroom.

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