Page 50 of Until Now

“Yes, thank you,” I laugh and take a bite of cheesecake.

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“Che cazzo sta succedendo?” I say as we pull into the driveway. Just outside of the garage, Lee stands yelling at Nick while Teagan watches from the front steps. I practically jump out of the Jeep before Kai pulls to a stop.

“I’ve been calling you!” Eileen meets me outside the garage.

“My phone was on silent,” I say and pull my phone out of my purse to see multiple missed calls and texts from Eileen.

“Lee, just take your girl and go inside. You don’t want to do this,” Nick says as we join them.

“How can you act so casual about this? You’ve been lying this whole time!”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about. You really need to let this go.”

“So, this isn’t you?” Lee holds out his phone, on display a photo — a group of boys in front of the Phi Gamma Delta frat house. At the end of the line none other than Nick with a buzzcut and I know I’ve seen that boy in the photo before. But, the photo doesn’t prove anything. We know he went to Rosecliffe.

“What’s your point? I went to Rosecliffe, that wasn’t a secret.”

“You’re a fraud. A liar. I knew something was up with you, I just couldn’t prove it. When Jonas sent this the other day, I had what I needed to find who you really are.”

Jonas. Does Nick know Jonas? Does he know Tobi too? Wait, didn’t he say he hung around Sig Phi? Tobias was in Sig Phi.

“You’re one to talk, Lee. Are you forgetting what you’ve been doing since we got here? Maybe even longer.”

Lee’s eyes widen.

“Okay, enough. What is going on?” I finally ask.

“You wanna tell her or should I?” Lee demands.

“I could ask you the same thing.” Nick’s smirk never falters. What in the hell is he talking about?

Lee’s face contorts before he turns to me, practically yelling, “He’s lying to you, Nina.”

“For the last time, Lee, stay out of my business.” I’ve had enough of him sticking his nose where it didn’t belong. “You’re really starting to get on my last nerve.”

“He’s not who you think! He dropped out of Rosecliffe, he—”

“I know who he is. I don’t need your help, nor do I want it.”

“You are so pathetic,” Teagan scoffs as she descends the stairs. “Did you think bringing him here would make Lee jealous? Make him want you back?”

“Oh, here we go.”

“Do your parents know?”

“Stay the hell out of this, Teagan.”

“I’ll take that as a no.”

“That’s enough, Teagan,” Kai warns.

“Oh, so you know the truth?” Teagan laughs when Kai doesn’t respond. “You’re all in on it, aren’t you? Well, I’m sure Mommy and Daddy would love to know who your new boy toy is. Especially, Daddy. I wonder how he’d feel to know his Princess isn’t as innocent as she seems. To know she’s been lying about her new boyfriend.”

“Shut the hell up,” I say through gritted teeth. I want nothing more than to slap the smirk from Teagan’s lips. I take a deep breath, I refuse to let Teagan bait me. It has been a long time since my last fight, high school probably. It’s not happening. I’m not that person anymore. These people bring out the worst in me, but that part of me is hidden behind a locked door. I won’t be opening the door no matter how hard it tries to claw out.

“What are you gonna do, Nin? You wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

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