Page 114 of The Love Haters

“You were trying to help yourself.”

“Okay, that’s true. It started that way. I didn’t want to have to spend months making a video about what a hero my brother is. But I have also genuinely been trying to help you not get fired.”

“Why?”

“Hutch isn’t the only person in this family who can rescue people.”

“Oh,god. You’re competing with him?”

“Who cares? You benefit no matter what.”

“I’m not sure this isbenefitting.”

“Are you saying you want to get fired?”

“No! I just want to do whatever non-liars do when things don’t go their way.”

“Then you’ll have to kiss that ‘Day in the Life’ goodbye.”

“I wasn’t going to make it, anyway.”

That got Cole’s attention. “You don’t want to keep your job?”

“Not by selling out Hutch.”

Cole thought about that. “Well, it’s too late now, anyway.”

“What does that mean—it’s too late?”

“I can’t tell the truth now, anyway. Even if I wanted to.”

“Why not?”

Cole glanced back toward the party. “Because I also told Sullivan we were dating.”

I couldn’t have heard that right. “You told—?! Sullivan?!”

“That’s why she’s here.”

I put my hand to my forehead.

“It was an accident. I panicked. I saw your name on the termination list in her office, and, you know—I’d already said it to Hutch, so it was just right there in my head.”

“You’re out of control.”

“I don’t normally lie. It all just—snowballed.”

“You toldSullivanwe were dating? Sullivan?” It made no sense. “Why?”

“It was the only thing I could think of.”

“How would that even help?”

Cole shook his head, like he knew he’d already lost, then ventured, “Because I wouldn’t be dating you if you were bad at your job?”

I sighed.

“But then it got worse,” Cole said. “Because she didn’t believe me. So I had to amp it up.”

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