Page 188 of On a Fault Line

“There you go.”

They swim toward the flakes, swallowing them up with each gulp.

I stare a little longer into the tank before closing the lid. I cross off the feeding cycle from the list and hope I didn’t majorly overstep.

I just couldn’t help myself.

But when I place the notebook back onto the dresser, a series of photos float out onto the floor.

Grabbing them, my heart stops.

These are of me…

And Collins.

What the hell?

We are standing in the hallway outside his place. One is of me at the coffee shop for the speed dating event. Another is of us making out in the alleyway afterward.

And there’s a series of us outside in the parking lot at Limit-X.

No…

Why do these even exist?

“Penny?”

Whipping my body around, I come face-to-face with my slimy roommate.

“Who are you?” I demand.

“Why are you snooping in my room?”

I flash the photos in the air. “Why do you have pictures of me and Collins?”

“What?” he has the nerve to ask.

“Look!” I wave them in front of his face. “See them? Why?” I yell.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” But then his eyes lock on to the photos, and instantly, I want to hide them from his view.

No one needs to be witness to these once private, intimate moments between me and the man I love.

“You don’t need to keep lying.”

Luke’s forehead wrinkles. “I’m not.”

I’ll give it to him—he does sound convincing.

“My brothers hired you, didn’t they?” Taking a step forward, I shove at his chest. “You’ve been lying to me this whole time?” He’s not even denying it. “You moved in with me to keep an eye on me?”

“How can I keep an eye on you when you’re barely here? That makes no sense.” His words are barely a whisper, but they hit hard.

“That’s not the point! Did you tamper with my speed-dating matches?” When he doesn’t answer, I push him again. “I thought you were my friend. But you went to my brothers about the best thing that’s ever happened to me and basically are ruining everything.”

Tears flood my vision. I’m in truth overload. It literally feels like my life is crashing down around me, one sacred memory at a time.

Luke continues talking to me, but I block him out by covering my ears. I can’t look at him. I can’t listen to him. I can’t be in his presence.

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