Page 52 of Come Here and Kiss Me

All I can think about on the drive over is, well, that makes sense. The world knows I’m a slut, and my father disowning me combined with a scandal is more than likely enough to disqualify me from my trust. I wasn’t planning on showing up here. I just did. My phone hasn’t stopped dinging with calls and text messages, probably a few from her.And feeling numb and with no where that feels safe of my own, I knock on Aspen’s front door.

“Brooklyn, call me ba—” She opens the door, coming face-to-face with me while she’s leaving a voicemail on my cell phone. “Oh my God! I’ve been blowing up your phone.”

Her face drops the moment she sees me, a mix of sadness but also relief.

I nod. “Yeah, you and everyone else.”

“Are you okay?” She grabs my arm, tugging me forward and closing the door behind me.

“No,” I tell her, barely holding on.

Within seconds, she has a glass of prosecco in my hand, and we’re sitting out on the balcony staring at each other. She lies and says it’ll be okay. She asks about Ronan, and I don’t answer. “He loves you,” she tells me, and my heart drops. “You two are going to get through this. I know it,” she says, and I love her deeply, but hearing her say that hurts more than she could ever know.

I finally confess, “I have to tell you something.”

“You can tell me anything.”

I let it slip out, and I can’t stop it. “It’s all a lie.”

She cocks her head to the side. “What’s a lie?”

“You know…”

Her eyes narrow.“I don’t know,” she says softly, not breaking eye contact.

“I’m talking about my engagement. It’s all one big charade.”

She lightly gasps, surprised and taken aback.Her mouth drops open, and my friend, who I grew up sharing all of my deepest darkest secrets with, looks back at me like I betrayed her. Tears prick again, and my throat feels as if I’m going to choke, but I hold it all down.

“What?” she questions like she doesn’t believe what she just heard.

“I’m sorry I lied to you,” I apologize, knowing she’s hurt that I didn’t tell her the truth.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”she asks. “You could have told me.”

“I promised Ronan I wouldn’t tell anyone.”

“Do you not trust me?” The hurt is evident in her tone.

“Of course I do.” She abruptly stands, downing her drink in one large gulp before filling it up again.

I’m hesitant at first but find the courage to ask, “Are you mad at me?”

“Yes.”

We lock eyes, and mine swell with the threat of fresh tears.

She’s quick to add, “But I understand.”

I nod, feeling slightly less anxious now that she’s aware of the truth.Now that I can actually talk to someone I trust.

“You promise you don’t hate me?”

“I could never hate you,” she says, hugging me.

I can’t describe the feeling going through me. Knowing that at least I can trust her and she still loves me.

When she pulls back, she asks, “And what about the video?”

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