Page 88 of Sugar Coated Lies
He told him to wait? He knew he was coming here?
I never told Daire Benedict’s name, but if he knows Benedict, then he knows the guy who hurt me on the yacht. He knows I loathe this man for what he did and how he continued to torment me.
Everything inside me screams this is wrong, that Benedict is a dirty manipulator, but none of that explains why he’s here. How he knows I’m here. How he knows this farm and Daire and about the diner that night.
“You’re trying to piece the lies together, aren’t you? Let me help.” His deep, calm voice reminds me of the way the serial killers talked to their victims in the shows Sadie used to watch. “I dropped Daire off at the diner. I waited for him to text me that it was time to pick him up. I parked in front of the booth he sat in so my headlights would shine in your face and make it impossible for you to recognize me behind the wheel. He knows you stole from me and wanted to help me get my revenge. That’s what lifelong friends do.”
My head shakes even as my mind accepts that he couldn’t know these facts unless hewasthere.
“Need more proof? His family is in Scotland with my parents. They’re the bestest, oldest of friends. I’ve been in Daire’s life since we were babies, practically family. His parents were at my parents’ house in Augusta last month. Easton and Tennie were supposed to join, but they didn’t make it. It would have been a lot more fun.”
I suck in a small breath. He knows EastonandTennie. My back meets the wall, my heart sinking to my feet. How can this be? Was everything between Daire and me a lie? A game? Payback?
My lips tingle, and my feet grow numb.
“I’ll admit I didn’t think he was going to take the scheme so far. I mean, asking you to marry him out of pity seems extreme, even for my best friend. I do admire his initiative, though. I’ve thought of a lot of ways to get you back, but Daire surpassed any plan I’ve ever made. I doubt there is anything I can do to improve on this. Daire is quite the loyal friend. Consider your debt paid in full.”
My thoughts reel, my heart shattering into a million tiny pieces, lodging like barbed wire into my ribs and flesh. It’s all been a scheme to get back at me? Can I accept that? Do I have a choice? The answers have been delivered to me from the devil himself. Daire’s best and oldest family friend. The clothes in the guest room closet at his condo pop into my mind, of all things.
“Have you been to Atlanta?”
“A lot. I stay with Daire in his condo. We’re practically roommates. It’s nothing new. We lived together all through college.”
“I met you when you were in college. Daire wasn’t with you.”
“Not on that trip. He couldn’t make it.” He raises a hand to the chairs across from the desk. “Do you want to sit down? You look pale.”
I feel pale and like I can’t breathe. Sweat beads above my upper lip, but my fingers and toes are like ice.
“You’re welcome to wait for Daire with me. We can discuss this together and what our—or his—next plans are.”
This is wrong. I don’t want to believe it, but Benedict knows too much. He’s here, as cool as ever, because I’m the one who’s been played. This whole time. And I thought Benedict was a monster. Daire with all his kindness and friendliness and helpfulness. He’s the true monster. Who does that? Who pretends to care and makes love to a person the way he did, confessing his love and proposing marriage all for a game? A rich guy. Never trust one. I broke my own rule and paid the ultimate price.
I run from the room, down the stairs, and out the doors to the farm. I insisted on driving us to the farm this morning. Now, I see it as a sign, a blessing.
I get in my hot car, start the engine, and crank the air, desperate to leave here. Tears stream down my cheeks as I pull out of the parking lot and drive as fast as I can to get away. I don’t ever want to come back here again. The most beautiful place in the world to me and the most beautiful person are now tainted by a dark hatred, a black sludge that has infected everything I thought I knew. Benedict was right. There is nothing he did or could do to top Daire’s abuse of my good nature and heart.
I’ll never trust anyone again.
Chapter25
Daire
Hot and sweatyfrom trekking across the property, I head to my office to change into the spare shirt I keep for days like this.
As soon as I round the doorway, a tall figure stops me in my tracks. Time stands still, my brain struggling to make sense of the situation. Benedict is here. In my office. The office that I’d locked up before leaving, but the bastard knows the key-code from past visits.
Adrenaline charges through my veins, unleashing a mass of panic and rage through my body. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Is that how you greet your oldest friend?” he says in his casual way.
“Why are you here?” Did he see Everleigh? Did she see him?Fuck.
“You should monitor what your employees post on the farm's Instagram page. I believe congratulations are in order.”
My muscles turn to stone. He knows. I can’t believe someone posted it. Who? Why did I announce it to everyone? I was deliriously happy, that’s why.Fuck!
Benedict is here for one reason: to torment Everleigh. Shit’s about to blow up in my face and there is nothing I can do to stop it. I turn and stomp toward the doors to check on her.
