Page 18 of Pretty Girls Never Lie (St. Mary’s)

“I don’t wantanythingfrom you.”

I chuckle, which seems to make her angry.

“You may not want my help, Goldilocks…” I push off the wall and head toward her. My use of the pet name makes her nose scrunch with disgust. “But you need it.”

To my surprise, she doesn’t deny it.

“How about this?” I cup her chin and tilt her cute scowl in my direction. I love that I tower over her. “I help you find him, and then I help you find your way out of my life for good.”

I’m as tight as a rubber band, and the second she’s gone, I know it’s going to snap. I can taste the fear of what comes with pushing her away. I felt something that night in the closet, just like I felt something the moment I saw her name on the whiteboard outside her room. I’ve felt it ever since, like it’s a second skin, which is harrowing to someone like me.

What is she doing to me?

Isla’s eyes bounce around the hallway, like she’s contemplating my proposal, but then she shakes her head, and my heart skips a beat.

“I don’t need your help finding him.”

“I thought we’ve already been through this.” My tone is lazy, but I’m twisted on the inside. “You do need my help.”

She shakes her head again. “I’ve found him…” Isla licks her lips before gulping loudly. “I just need to figure out a way to keep him.” I follow Isla’s swaying skirt down the hall with lingering confusion. Before she disappears, she turns, and the ghost of defeat is haunting her features. “And you can’t help me with that.”

I wait until she’s out of my sight before pulling open my phone and calling an old friend.

Isla has no idea what I can and can’t help with, and even though I told her I wanted her out of my life, I know it was a complete fucking lie.

ELEVEN

Isla

The warm summer breeze whips at the ends of my hair when I tilt my head back to look at the moon. St. Mary’s is dark and quiet at my back, and I let myself feel peaceful for a second. The nerves from sneaking through the darkened corridors start to fade, and to my surprise, Brantley is nowhere to be found.

When first arriving at St. Mary’s, I thought the headmaster would be a hardass and there would be locks on every door, but I was wrong. Granted, I’m eighteen, and I think most of the students here are, butstill,we are considered high schoolers to an extent. We’re all attending the summer program for a reason. Theirs is probably for a high school diploma; mine is to get closer to my brother.Tomayto, tomahtoe.

Two bright headlights shine in my direction, and I slowly rise to my feet. I force a closed-lip smile onto my face. Zachary comes to a sudden stop, and instead of waiting for him to open my door, I do it myself and slide onto the cool leather of the passenger seat.

I can’t help but turn around to see if my brother is in the back seat. There is no disappointment when I see that he isn’t, because I’m not naive enough to think that Zachary would give me what I want right away.

He wants me to himself, and he knows I’ll keep showing up if he continues to taunt Thomas in front of me.

“Did you really think I’d bring him out this late?”

He acts like he’s running for foster father of the year.

I whoosh forward in his sports car and stare at the side of his face, noting the five o’clock shadow he’s sporting.

“He’s at home with Jess. Asleep.”

I go straight for the kill because I can’t help myself. “And where does your wife thinkyouare, Zachary?”

He glances over at me with a raised eyebrow. “Feeling feisty tonight, are we?”

Only because I know that’s what he likes.

“She’s asleep as well.”

Just like the many times he snuck into my bedroom when I lived there.

Vomit hits the back of my throat with regret, and Ihatehim for putting me in the position that he did. But here I am again, allowing him to put me in yet another fucked-up situation.

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