Page 90 of A Love Song for Liars

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“He didn’tsay.”

“And you didn’t ask? Whatever ‘I’m a musician, I’ll do what I want’ breakfast cereal you all eat isn’t charming. It isn’t normal.” The burning behind my eyes doesn’t turn to tears. It lingers like coals that refuse tocool.

I run across the pool deck and into the house. Haley calls out to me, but I pass her without a word and pull out my phone to check for missed calls ormessages.

Nothing.

Three nights ago, he slept in mybed.

The next day, we flirted at the dinnertable.

I fucking boughtcandles.

It’s nottrue.

It’snot.

It’s—

I stalk into my room and pull up at the sight of the object lying on myduvet.

The guitar I bought Tyler. Twenty-four frets, inlaidrosewood.

I stare at it numbly as if it’s going to speak, but maybe it alreadydid.

“Annie...” Haley’s voice comes from thedoorway.

I can barely make her out through my blurryvision.

“Goaway.”

“Weshould—“

“Go.Away!”

I shut the door and grab the guitar, sliding my back down the side of the bed until my ass hits thefloor.

I wrap a hand around the neck and squeeze. The strings bite into myskin.

“Forgiveme.”

“Someday.”

“When?”

“When you never leaveme.”

I shut my eyes so hard my teethhurt.

After three years of ups and downs, of inside jokes and bitter standoffs and dreaming of things I never thought would happen, everything‘s starting falling into place. My life is making beautiful, twisted sense for the firsttime.

“I like you. Alot.”

“I like you a lot too,Six.”

The last few days with him scroll through my mind, a movie of promises and confessions and trust and openness. Of wanting and finallyhaving.

After so long, I havehim.

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