Page 11 of One Little Lie
My verity.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I pray no one has filled Rylan in on GG’s extra-curricular activities yet, because she can be neither of those things. Standing suddenly, I expect the room to swirl, but apparently, this isn’t your standard hangover. Wrapping the sheet around my mid-section, I refuse to make eye contact with either of them as I storm past them and slam the bathroom door for good measure.
Just as I’m about to turn the water on in the shower, GG’s inability to whisper gives away her words.
“He’s going to be a tough nut to crack, that one, but I’m never wrong.”
“Uh, wrong about what?” The confusion in Rylan’s voice has the muscles in my neck bulging as I strain to hear the rest of their conversation.
“Destiny.”
Shaking my head, I pull back the shower curtain and curse under my breath.
Why, in God’s name, are my clothes from last night in a puddle at the bottom of my tub?
* * *
Walking into GG’s lodge an hour later, I feel that sense of dread you get when you think you might have done something embarrassing, but you blacked out and can’t quite remember. It only gets worse when I stumble on Colton and Lexi.
“Should we tell him?”
“God, why didn’t I think to take any pictures. It’ll probably never happen again, and now I have no proof,” Colton whines.
“How much do you think he remembers?”
I freeze in the small hallway. They have to be talking about me, and my neck gets hot.Shit.
“I don’t know, but it was fucking amazing seeing him smile for a change.”
“I think we should tell him.” Lexi sounds resigned in her decision. At least someone is looking out for me.
“I don’t know, Lex. I don’t want to take any chances on GG coming after me next. If he really doesn’t remember anything, I say no harm, no foul. It’s not like he streaked through the streets of town or anything. I swear to God, GG is a scary witch. What if she turns those powers on us? I say we ignore it and see how it pans out for him.”
So much for the brotherhood. Mother of God, this can’t be happening.
“You’re pretty convinced he’s Fibby then?”
“Hell, yes. It’s not me, and she’s giving Ash a wide berth. It’s about time, too. Halton has always been reserved, but I hate seeing him so miserable all the time.”
If I wasn’t already dying of mortification, I’d probably laugh at how freaked out Colt sounds. But he’s wrong. I’m not miserable. I just like being alone.
Liar.
“You have nothing to worry about, you know?”
Rylan’s voice in such tight proximity causes my heart to lurch in my chest. I take a step back to put some space between us, but I hit the wall.
Has this hallway always been so fucking narrow?
I force my eyes to remain open even as her scent—cookies and sunshine—fills my nostrils. It’s all I can do not to inhale deeply like it’ll be my last breath.
“Halton,” she snaps, and what’s left of my heart falls to pieces.
She’s never called me Halton before. Not ever. To keep from causing a scene, I swallow the emotions that are threatening.
I nod but don’t hold eye contact. Instead, I stare through her, keeping my eyes unfocused, and avoid her glare for as long as I can. I don’t know what would be worse, finding happiness or the pain I caused still lingering in her gaze, so I refuse to chance it.
“Whatever, Halton. You have nothing to worry about. You didn’t do anything too stupid last night. But you kept calling me your verity. I-I need to know why? Why won’t you let me go?” she whispers, but it’s strangled, and my chest vibrates with the need to hold her.
