Page 84 of The Lies Always Told

He brings his hand to my hair, tucking it behind my ear. He smiles and says, “You needed me.”

“What do you mean?” I say, searching his eyes for answers. Quickly, the memories from yesterday come to mind, fast, crashing like lightning and burning me from the inside out. I gasp, and Gus’ face softens. Tears immediately roll down my face. He knew. Somehow, he knew.

“Shh, it’s okay. Come here.” His arms wrap around me, immediately pulling me to his chest. He smells spicy and fresh and mine. He smells like comfort. He smells like I can let myself fall, and he’ll catch me, like I can show him my walls and he won’t tear them down, but rather hold them up. He feels like I would be able to open up a dam, and he’ll swim across the current to find me. So I let him. I let him be my rock at this moment. I let him hold me and console me. I let myself feel, cry, and scream against his chest. I let myself do it all, for as long as I want, without feeling like I shouldn’t. I don’t apologize, I just let it all out and he lets me. He holds me and doesn’t let go. My buoy. My lighthouse. My safe space.

For all I know, all morning went by. For all I care, today never came, and I’ve been stuck in a loop of before everything happened. For all I hope, nothing actually happened. But there’s no point in knowing, caring, or hoping, not when the reality is as dark as the deepest part of the ocean. Nick is dead. Cody’s brother shot him. Cody might be alone.Cody.

Gus keeps soothing me with words likeIt’s going to be okay. Cry, baby girl. Let it out. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.He doesn’t stop until I do, until I stop crying and just sniffle against Gus’ chest.

“Who told you?” I ask, waiting for his reply. God, it feels so long ago when he was here, begging me for another chance. It was just two nights ago, but the world exploded in between.

“Cara. I was with Manny when she texted.”

“Does she know you’re here?” I ask. The last thing I need right now is to have to explain to my family what’s going on with me and Gus.

He shakes his head. “Manny does. Heknows, but he won’t say anything, not until we’re ready.”

I nod and bury my head in his neck. I want to get lost in him. I want to lose myself in this moment and never face the world again. I don’t want to feel this anymore. There’s a buzzing sound in the distance interrupting the moment, pulling me away from my thoughts.

“Do you want me to answer?”

“No, it’s okay. Just give it to me.” He hands me my phone, but the call drops. It’s an unknown number I won’t call back. Whoever it is can wait. I sit up straight and regret it. My head is heavy, probably from all the crying, and I don’t even want to think of what I look like right now. I don’t want to think about anything at all. My phone is full of texts, missed calls, and tags online. I’ll deal with them when I can. Right now, I just want it all off. I want to turn it off.

I get up, walking to my dresser and pulling on someleggings and a hoodie. I slide into them, not saying anything at all.

“Nellie, talk to me,” Gus pleads, his voice thick with concern. It comes from behind me, soft but insistent. He’s still sitting on the bed—I can hear the slight creak of the mattress as he shifts—but I refuse to look at him. I can’t. If I do, I’ll break.

I press my lips together and focus on my hands, clenched into fists on my hoodie. I don’t want to explain. I don’t want to talk. I just want it all off—this feeling, this weight, everything that happened yesterday.

Before I can say anything, another buzzing sound cuts through the space. I whip around, snatching it and answering.

“Hello?” My voice is steadier than I expect.

“May I speak with Cornelia Thompson?”

My stomach knots.

“This is she.”

“This is Detective James, calling from the Baker Oaks Police Department. How are you?”

A chill races down my spine, but I force myself to sound normal. “I’m good. What can I help you with?” There’s a pause, just long enough for my heart to start hammering against my ribs.

“We were wondering if you could come to the station within the hour so we can ask you a few questions about yesterday’s events.”

I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry. “Is this optional?”

His voice turns sharper, edged with something I can’t quite place.“It’s voluntary right now, but I can get a warrant if I need to. You’re not in trouble. This is not about you; this is about whatever information you may have that can aid this case. Ms. Thompson, someone is dead, and from what we understand, you know more about what happened yesterday. We just have some follow-up questions.”

Dead. The word lands in my chest like a stone, heavyand cold. I grip the phone tighter, my knuckles turning white. My mind races, fragments of yesterday flashing like broken glass.

Gus shifts again, not dropping his eyes from mine. He knows something’s wrong. How much does he know? I don’t know.

I clear my throat, forcing the words out. “I’ll be there.”

“Thank you.” The line goes dead.

I lower the phone slowly, staring at it like it might burst into flames.

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