Page 6 of The Lie
“Oh, Asher…that’s a hard one. Netflix or you? Mmm…who are you playing?”
I give her a cocky grin and wink. “Royals.”
Asher just shakes his head and grunts something under his breath at me.
“Their quarterback is hot. And they’re an amazing team. They are so gonna go to state.” She turns to me. “No offense, Hunter. The Rebels are good, but have you seen the Royals?”
I laugh at the sound that escapes Asher’s lips. Mila, the shit-stirrer. I see what Kate is talking about now. Riling him up.
“Hey, we have Walker, and you said he is hot. Plus, he’s been calling me every day to see how you are. We’re all playing for you tomorrow, Mila.”
Her hand goes to her chest.
“Aww…you’re playing for me?” She beams. “Walker is hotter.” Raising her cast up in the air, she says, “Go Kings,” and winks at me.
Asher whoops loudly, his fist punching the air.
“I knew I just had to dangle the right incentive to get you cheering for the Kings every week.” Asher turns to me. “No offense, man, you’re good and all…but Walker’s hot. You heard it from the source. Plus, he’s a better quarterback than Jace.”
Walker Murphy’s a cocky guy; he knows he’s good. But he’s also a decent human too. He cares enough about Mila that he sent her flowers. They’re with all the rest that are now at her house since there were too many in the hospital room.
Not like Jace Montero. Not even once has he thought about anyone but himself. The rest of his family has. Grady’s been here with me during the week, and his parents have been cooking for James. But not Jace. He’s been off with Britney and not giving one shit that Mila’s in the hospital.
“Hunter?” Mila reaches out to me as a nurse walks in.
“I need to check her vitals, and she needs a rest, boys. Say your goodbyes.”
It isn’t enough time. I can’t leave her; she’s so small and needs me. She needs someone with her. She’s strong and so feisty, but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t need or want someone to take care of her. Shoulder some of the pain. Even if it’s to just sit here and listen to her talk or hold her hand.
But I see the way her eyelids droop a little. She is keeping herself awake for us, and I know she needs rest. As soon as I have the opportunity, I will stay and sit with her while she sleeps.
Asher is already tugging on my arm as the nurse gives us a warning look to say goodbye. “I gotta go, beautiful. But I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Roman?” she asks, her eyes wide and pleading.
God, if I could bring him to her, I would. I give her a small smile and shrug. I know it’s not what she wants to hear. I don’t want to lie to her, either, and say he will be here. It’s the million-dollar question everyone seems to be asking.
Where’s Roman?
THREE
MILA
My house looks like a florist shop. I didn’t get to go home Sunday. Or Monday. When the doctor said afewdays, I thought three. I’d been hoping for two, but here I am, Tuesday, and finally home.
“What the—?” Dad helps me as I step into what I thought was my bedroom, but it doesn’t look the same. I straighten and look around. The room has undergone a makeover. Like, a huge makeover. I do a double take because it’s so different and in the best way.
“Do you like it?” Dad asks warily.
Tears spring to my eyes. “Like it? I love it.”
My old childhood bed has been replaced by a queen-size with a dark walnut headboard. The quilt is plain black, and there are scatter pillows in pink and blue, giving color to the otherwise dark bed. It looks fantastic.
The walls are still white, but they now display old photos I hadn’t seen in years in black frames. A blue lamp sits on my new desk, which is a matching dark walnut, and the desk chair is a white leather. Everything looks so different but so…perfect.
Except the strange table sitting to the side. That doesn’t belong here. It doesn’t match the rest of the room. I point at it, and Dad chuckles.
“Oh, that’s not going to stay. Borrowed it from a friend. It’s just like the hospital one.” But I realize it’s a little harder to move on the carpet as I watch him push it over to the bed.
