Page 10 of One Lovely Lie

“Magnus, you’re a great guy—”

I smirk, leaning my hand on the doorway. “Thanks.”

“But you’re kind of horrible.”

I blink at him, my jaw dropping, my hand slipping from the door, and I awkwardly fumble back up. “Um, what?”

Thaxton rolls his eyes and runs his hand through his messy brown hair, his green eyes filled with something akin to pity that serves to just piss me off. “You know we’re people, right? You know that you can’t just keep going from one to another forever? We’ve been together for three months and now you’re just ending it because I want to go to a concert with you?”

“You knew what this was,” I argue, crossing my arms over my chest. “I never led you to believe this could be anything more.”

“I know that but…” He cuts himself off with a shake of his head when he doesn’t get the reaction that he wants from me. “This is pointless. I hope that one day you feel like I feel right now. I hope that one day, you fall in love with someone only for that to get ripped away. I hope that it teaches you a lesson that I couldn’t teach you.”

And with that illuminating tidbit, he leaves me slack-jawed and a bit embarrassed. That embarrassment quickly turns into anger because what the fuck does he know? I’m not the villain here. I never told him we could be anything more.

He hopes that I’ll fall in love just to have it ripped away? What a joke. That’s the exact reason Idon’tfall in love. That’s the whole reason I don’t seek out relationships. What good are love and commitment and monogamy when it’s all just crap in the end?

I clench my fists at my side and try to figure out what to do next. I quickly throw on a pair of sweats and an old Manchester United hoodie and make my way out of my room. It only takes me five minutes to get to Monroe Hall. Before I can stop myself, I’m knocking on the last door of the hall at two in the morning. It’s stupid because if I get caught, that’s another week’s worth of detention.

Two knocks later and the door swings open, revealing Avery in all his hulkish glory, wearing nothing but tight briefs, and covered in paint.

“Avery, what…” I gesture at him because I’m at a loss for words. Our friend is weird, but this is a new level of unusual. “What are you doing?”

“I’m making a portrait of Daniel doing homework,” he replies as if it’s the most normal thing in the world, raising his hand and wiping more black war paint onto his cheek.

“Um, what?”

“He’stryingto paint me,” Daniel calls from inside the room. “He doesn’t know how to paint.”

When Avery takes a step back and I walk in, I can see his half-assed canvas in the dark corner of the room, paint cans littering the floor, looking like a mess. “Doyou know how to paint, Avery?”

“No, but what does that matter?”

There’s no use arguing with him, and he doesn’t even give me a chance before he’s already skulking back to his corner, mouth pinched in concentration as he stares at Daniel lying on the bed.

Daniel doesn’t seem bothered, still focused on his textbook, his flop of bright blond hair held back by the headband I always tease him about. Well, I tease him because he looks adorable like this, and it’s no wonder that Avery got the inspiration to paint him.

“Scoot over,” I say, reaching out and closing his textbook as I throw myself onto his bed.

“What are you doing?” he questions, sounding annoyed as I toss his book on the floor. “Seriously? I was studying.”

“I need cuddles,” I say with absolutely no shame, tucking us both under the covers. “Give me snuggles.”

He huffs but complies nonetheless, turning me over so my back is to his front and his leg is thrown over my thigh. Despite our size difference—my six feet versus Daniel’s shorter frame—it works perfectly. “Can’tThaxtoncuddle you?”

“Knowing him he’d want to be the little spoon. I’m the little spoon.”

I don’t yet mention the fact that I broke it off with Thaxton. No, I want to enjoy this little snuggle bubble for a little bit longer before I dredge that up. Daniel must sense that because he says nothing, simply tightening his arms around my chest, his hand over my heart as I melt into him.

“Why are you here, Mag?” he whispers in my ear, goosebumps erupting on my neck. I look over at Avery and I can feel Daniel shake his head. “Don’t worry about him. He’s too into his portrait, and his Beats headphones are soundproof.”

“Can’t I just want to see my best friend?”

“It’s been ages since you crawled into my bed, so that’s a no.”

I groan, squeezing his hand, knowing that the jig is up. “Fine. Thaxton wanted to go to a concert.”

“Which one?”

---