Page 133 of Tragic Lies (Rixon High 2)

“Bryan, I—”

“Let’s not do this, yeah? I said I’ll keep your secret and I will.”

“You’re a good friend, Bryan.” Shouldering the door, I went to climb out, but he stopped me.

“Peyton?”

“Yeah?”

“Happy birthday. I hope you get everything you wish for.” He leaned over and opened the glove compartment and handed me a small gift box. “You might as well have this.”

Barbed coils of guilt squeezed my heart as I saw the gift.

“I bought it before, well, you know…”

“Thank you.” I got out of the car and closed the door, inhaling a sharp breath.

I was a horrible person. The worst. Bryan didn’t deserve this. But I also couldn’t pretend there was something more there when there wasn’t.

Bryan might have only seen me.

But I only saw Xander.

---