Page 31 of Cold Hard Truth

“There is nous, Sage.” I shake my head. “Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me you told Kane you want to pursue me, or that you have a plan to. Tell me this can actually work, and we won’t just fall apart like my parents. Like every couple we’ve seen try to make a go of it these past seven years. Tell me that there’s a chance.”

He swallows hard, and I really want him to tell me all those things, but he doesn’t.

“Exactly.” I gnaw at the inside of my cheek. “I’ll see you around, Sage.”

“Lyla—” He grabs my wrist a final time when I turn to go, and I hate that his touch is all I’ve ever needed when I can’t have it. “Wait. At least let me drive you. Where is Ellie even staying?”

“Somewhere downtown. I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. I’ll find it.”

“Please.”

“I’m sorry.” I pull out of his grip. “Just let me go.”

I want to disappear. I want to have never given in to this so I wouldn’t have to feel the loss.

But as Sage stands still and I walk away from him, I know there’s no hope, and there’s no moving on.

11

Lyla

Ellie circles the couch,handing me a vodka tonic.

“We’re drinking our problems away now?” I hitch an eyebrow at her.

She shrugs, dropping down onto the cushion beside me and crossing her feet under her. “Seems like as good of a plan as any. Now spill, why do you look like you’ve been run over by a truck?”

“Thanks.” I roll my eyes, brushing my hair off my shoulder, but she’s right. My mascara is smeared, and my hair is tangled from spending all day in bed. “I’m just tired.”

Tired.

Depressed.

Ready to hide under the covers and never come out.

The opposite of my sister, who is practically glowing now that she’s finally free of her deadbeat ex-boyfriend.

Every time I saw her these past few months, she looked like she was eating less and worrying more. It was clearshe wasn’t happy with him, which is why I think she barely spoke to me and didn’t encourage me to actually take her up on the offer to move with her to San Francisco.

But since she moved back to LA, she’s been smiling again. Playful like she used to be when we were kids. Her blue eyes are brighter, and her cheeks are rosy from our ice cream and pizza binges.

“You’re tired? Really, Lyla?” Ellie narrows her eyes. “Reed already called me, so you can drop the bullshit.”

Sinking back into the couch, I pull my blanket up to my chin and take a sip of my drink. “What did she say?”

“You mean… what has Sage said to her about you?” Ellie smirks.

“Sure.” I take another sip. “That.”

“Uh-huh.” Ellie takes a drink and then sets her glass down on the table so she can turn to face me. “She said he called to ask how you’re doing.”

“That’s it?”

“Lyla, Sage doesn’t talk about you.Ever. Not even to his sister.”

“I don’t see how that’s supposed to make me feel better.” I roll my eyes, even if it doesn’t surprise me.

It’s been two weeks since I walked away from him at the clubhouse, and it stings as much now as it did then, but he hasn’t reached out. Not a single call or text message. Part of me hoped he’d show up on my doorstep, but it’s been radio silence. I haven’t even heard a motorcycle idling on the street.

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