Tell Me Pretty Lies

by Charleigh Rose

  “Why is she here?” Taylor asks, nodding in my direction, a sense of déjà vu creeping in.

  “Because she’s fucking family, and she has more of a right to be here than you ever will,” Holden shocks me—along with everyone else by the looks of it—by saying. “And if your insecure, petty ass can’t handle it, you can get the fuck out.”

  No one speaks. Alexis averts her eyes, taking a sip of her drink, but I swear I see a flash of a smile. Aiden smirks, sitting back in his chair, and Taylor looks around for support, finding none. Valen, of course, is the one to break the silence by snorting out a laugh, and I elbow her side.

  “Great,” Holden says, lifting his cup. “Now that that’s settled, let’s get fucked up.”

  Everyone falls back into their conversations with the exception of Taylor who looks to be plotting my demise. I know Holden thinks he’s helping, but once again, he only poked the bear. I decide here and now that I’m done caring about Taylor. What is she going to do? Start another nasty rumor about me? Sling insults at me in the halls? How will I ever survive? Note the sarcasm.

  Holden takes a seat around the fire between Christian and Baker, and Valen takes the remaining one next to Aiden, while I stand here still stunned, wondering what the fuck just happened.

  “Hey, Blondie.”

  I look to my left to see Aiden slouched back in his Adirondack chair wearing a hoodie pulled over his head with the strings tied in a bow, matching sweatpants, and white kicks. He’s so hot, he manages to make even loungewear look both stylish and expensive.

  “You get all dressed up for me?” he asks, eyes roaming me head to toe, but somehow, it doesn’t come across in a salacious way.

  I tilt my head, eyebrow raised. “Obviously,” I tease. Aiden is tempting, but dark, broody eyes pop into my mind, unbidden, and I know it wouldn’t be fair to lead him on when I’m hung up on someone else.

  He pats his lap. “Have a seat.”

  “Sorry,” I say, pushing my lips into a pout. “I’m here with my boyfriend.”

  The confusion on his face morphs into amusement as I reach a hand toward Valen, and she pulls me onto her lap.

  “It’s true. I’m her daddy.”

  I snort out a laugh and she wiggles back into the chair, making room for me to sit in between her legs.

  “I saw a porn that started like this once,” Holden says, rubbing his hands together.

  “Just once?” Christian gibes.

  Taylor rolls her eyes. “Pretending to be lesbians for attention. How original.”

  Holden cuts her a warning glare and she throws up her manicured hands in mock surrender. “Sorry.” She shrugs in a way that says she’s not sorry at all. “Old habits die hard.”

  “It’s called a joke. You should try it sometime,” I say. She’s always so busy trying to be the prettiest, the richest, the smartest, the most athletic, that I don’t think she’d know what fun was if it bit her in the ass.

  She gives me a bratty smile and then averts her eyes, effectively ending the conversation. I don’t know how I was ever friends with her. I mean, we were frenemies at best, but even being friendly with Taylor seems impossible at this point.

  “I think summer is officially over.” I shiver, glad for the fire. I should’ve brought a jacket.

  “Drink more. It’ll warm you up,” Valen teases, guiding my cup to my mouth with the palm of her hand. Usually when we go out, one of us will limit ourselves to a drink or two if the other plans on getting drunk, but since I live right across the woods, we can both partake.

  The guys fall into some conversation about basketball, and Valen rolls her eyes, completely uninterested. At first, I’m tense, still not completely at ease here, but then we all fall into conversation, and I start to loosen up. Taylor still looks put out, as if my mere presence offends her, but she doesn’t make any additional snide comments. The more I drink, the more I relax. I’m feeling warm from both the fire and the alcohol, leaning back on Valen, with my feet perched on the edge of the brick fire pit.

  “Up,” Valen says, smacking the tops of my thighs. “We need more beer.”

  I stand too fast and stumble a little, feeling tipsier than I thought I was. Aiden stands and his hands steady me at my waist.

  “You good?” he asks quietly.

  “I’m so good.” I laugh. I haven’t let my guard down like this in over a year, and it feels like a weight has started to lift from my chest. Not fully, but enough to notice. Enough to breathe a little easier.

  A giggle rings out into the night air, and I look up to see Thayer standing on the balcony above us, hands braced on the ledge, staring daggers at me. A small group of people are up there with him, and a girl named Lissa whispers something into his ear, pressing her tits into the side of his arm. Lissa graduated last year, but it seems she still hasn’t given up on getting Thayer to notice her. I frown, looking away.

  “Take care of her,” Valen says, pointing a threatening finger at Aiden. “I’ll be right back.”

  “I need a re-up, too.” Holden stands, and the two of them walk inside together. Once they’re gone, Taylor takes the opportunity to sidle up to me, and I can tell by the look on her face that she’s way too excited about whatever bomb she’s about to drop on me.

  “Since you like jokes so much, want to hear a funny one?” she asks, tilting her head to the side with a fake-innocent expression on her face.

  “Let’s hear it,” I deadpan. She’s going to say it either way.

  “Okay, it’s a good one.” She claps her hands under her chin. “Are you ready?”

  When I don’t respond, she continues, cupping her hands around her mouth in a mock whisper. “It’s you. You’re the joke.”

  I poke out my bottom lip, patting the top of her head. “We’ll work on it. You’ll get better with practice.”

  “Oh, that’s not all,” she says when I start to turn around. I pause, waiting for her to finish. “The only reason you’re here right now is because Thayer told Holden to get close to you. But it’s super cute that you actually thought they were your friends.”

  What? I falter, not expecting that.

  “What the fuck, Taylor? Chill,” Aiden chimes in.

  “What? You don’t believe me? Just ask him.”

  “Tay!” Christian snaps, and the look on his face is all I need to know it’s true. The way Holden flip-flopped so suddenly and basically forced me to be his friend again. The way he’s always there, whether it be at lunch, in between classes, or picking me up from practice.

  My stomach churns, feeling stupid, but not exactly surprised.

  “Enjoy it while it lasts, because your time here,” she lowers her voice, moving close enough to tower over me, “is almost up.”

  “Thanks for the warning,” I manage to force sarcasm into my tone.

  “Anytime.” She smiles.

  I turn to the side yard, knowing there’s a gate over there I can leave through so I don’t have to walk back through the house.

  “Shayne,” Aiden calls out, but I wave him off.

  “I’m fine. I’ll be back in a minute.”

  I hear bickering break out among Christian, Baker, and Taylor, but I keep going. I make it to the perimeter of the yard, outside the clusters of people, eyes glued to my Chucks as I follow the fence down toward the gate. Using my free hand, I pull my phone from the purse at my hip and open Valen’s text thread to let her know I’ll be out front.

  “Where you going in such a hurry?” an unfamiliar voice asks, or slurs, rather. “I remember you.”

  I stop short just as Ryan…something approaches, beer in hand. I don’t know much about him, other than he used to play basketball with my brother and graduated last year. “It’s me,” I deadpan. Not in the mood for small talk or reunions, I move around him. Ryan sidesteps, blocking my way, and his beer jostles with the movement, spilling down my chest. I gasp, holding my arms out to shake off the excess beer before pinching the wet fabric of my dress and pulling it away fro
m my chest.

  “Shit, my bad. Let me take care of that for you.”

  Before I can blink, his cup falls to the ground, forgotten, and he wraps his arms around the small of my back, bringing his mouth to my chest with all the desperation of a newly turned vampire needing to feed.

  “Gross, get the hell off me,” I grunt, shoving him away before he’s able to make contact. I try to move past him, and he blocks me once again, pissed at the rejection. Just when I’m poised to knee him between the legs, a fist shoots out, hitting the side of his face, making his head snap to the side.

  Shayne

  I jump back, wide-eyed, as Thayer fists the collar of Ryan’s shirt before he’s recovered from the hit, then throws him to the ground.

  “Hold up,” Ryan shouts, cupping his jaw, looking up at Thayer from the grass, blood dripping from his lip. “I didn’t know she was your girl. My bad, man.”

  Thayer lunges for him, but I pull on his shirt, holding him back. “Stop!”

  Ryan flinches, holding up his arms to protect his face, but to my surprise, Thayer listens to me, stopping at the last second. Instead, he spits on the ground next to him.

  “Oh, that’s lovely,” I say drily. “And I had it handled.”

  “The fuck you did.”

  Holden and Aiden must have heard the commotion, because they’re running up to us wearing matching confused expressions.

  “What the hell happened?” Holden barks, looking from Thayer to Ryan’s form lying in the grass.

  “I’m leaving,” I snap. “That’s what happened.” I head for the side gate.

  “Get rid of him,” I hear Thayer order, and then I’m being picked up and thrown over his shoulder. Again.

  “Put me down, Thayer,” I demand, squirming in his hold.

  “You’re drunk.”

  “And you’re an asshole!”

  Thayer doesn’t answer, but I think I hear him chuckle as he prowls back toward the house. My hair hangs in my face, and I’m glad for the barrier it creates between me and everyone who’s gawking at us. I feel a tug on my dress at my thighs, followed by the warmth of Thayer’s palm over my ass, shielding me from prying eyes. How chivalrous.

  All the blood rushes to my head, and hanging upside down doesn’t do anything to help the dizzying drunk feeling. As soon as Thayer steps inside, people part like the Red Sea, making way for him. I hear a mixture of whistles, laughter, and cheers, and I try once again to get down to no avail.

  “Shayne, what the hell?!” I hear Valen’s voice shout. I brace my hands against Thayer’s lower back to push myself up, seeking her out. “Two minutes! I leave you for two minutes!” She abandons her drink, then rushes after us, but Holden intercepts her, his hand flattening against her stomach. I catch the scathing look she gives him before Thayer rounds the corner, then starts up the stairs. Once we’re down the long hallway, he pivots right, throwing his door open.

  He’s taking me to his room? My stomach flips, and not because of the alcohol. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in here, and I’m not sure I want to be now. Thayer kicks the door shut behind him, then stalks to the center of his room and tosses me onto the bed.

  I yelp, bouncing onto his mattress, throwing my arms out behind me out of reflex. Thayer’s eyes flit down my body, landing on my exposed underwear, and I quickly jerk my dress down, clamping my legs shut around my hand.

  “What is wrong with you? You just hauled me up here like a jealous boyfriend! Do you realize what this looks like?”

  “Why should I give a fuck what they think? I just saved your ass.”

  “Saved me?” I snort, incredulous. “Or was it just a part of your grand scheme to get close to me?” I use air quotes to drive my point home, but Thayer doesn’t react like I thought he would. He doesn’t seem like he’s been caught. I push to my feet, closing the distance between us. “It wasn’t real, was it?”

  “What wasn’t?”

  “Any of it. You fixing my car. Giving me the key to the barn. Holden,” I tick off. “You made him pretend to be my friend. And for what?” What did he hope to accomplish?

  “I told him to watch you,” he clarifies. “Big deal.”

  “Like that’s so much better.”

  “I’m not sorry, Shayne.”

  “Of course you’re not.”

  “I needed to know if I could trust you.”

  “And?” I ask, raising an eyebrow, challenging.

  “Jury’s still out.”

  “Great talk. Don’t you have to get back to Lissa?” I realize my mistake the moment the words leave my lips. Thayer scrapes his teeth across his bottom lip, capturing his piercing.

  “Now look who’s jealous,” he accuses, moving in on me.

  “Just an observation.”

  He hooks a finger underneath the strap on my shoulder, sliding it back and forth under the thin material, teasing. I slap his hand away, not wanting him to see how he affects me, even when he’s acting like an irrational, unbearable asshole.

  Pounding at the door has both our heads snapping toward the sound. “Shayne, are you okay?” Valen’s voice calls out, a mixture of irritation and worry.

  “Make her leave,” he says, low enough so only I can hear.

  “Why should I?”

  “Because this doesn’t involve her.”

  “What is this?” I ask. I feel like everyone around me is in on something I’m not.

  “You have questions?”

  I nod.

  “Get rid of her and I’ll tell you what you need to know.”

  “She didn’t drive here. We walked from my house. I’m not letting her leave alone.”

  “We’ll get her home safe.”

  “You’ll answer my questions?”

  “I said I’ll tell you what you need to know.”

  I purse my lips, looking into his stormy eyes. “No deal.”

  Valen pounds again. “I’m two seconds from calling the police.”

  “No, she’s not!” Holden yells, amusement clear in his voice.

  “Give that back!”

  The sounds of them tussling on the other side of the door tells me that he took her phone.

  Thayer narrows his eyes. “Fine. I’ll answer your questions.”

  I smile, victorious. “I’m fine!”

  “Not good enough. I want to see that you’re okay,” Valen’s muffled voice calls out.

  My heart swells and my chest fills with pride. I’ve subjected her to enough horror stories for her to walk away without seeing for herself. Not that Thayer’s capable of any of those things. But rule number one? You never truly know anyone. Rule number two? Never, under any circumstance, leave your friend alone in a potentially dangerous situation.

  I move past Thayer and pull the door open. Valen’s eyes are full of suspicion as she glances between us, then pushes the door open to scan the room.

  “I’m fine, I promise.”

  “You’re soaking wet,” she points out.

  “Don’t look at me like that. Ryan Matthews doused her with beer, then tried to stick his tongue down her throat,” Thayer explains.

  Valen raises her eyebrows, looking at me for confirmation. I roll my eyes, then nod. “I’ll explain everything tomorrow, okay?”

  She crosses her arms, seeming to mull it over. “Better be one hell of an explanation,” she relents.

  “Where’s Christian?” Thayer asks Holden.

  “He and Baker are getting rid of Ryan.”

  “Kick everyone out, then take her home.”

  “Gladly.” He grins, handing Valen’s phone back to her. She jerks it from his hand, giving him a scathing look.

  “No thanks. I’d rather crawl home.”

  Holden’s eyes flash with a wicked gleam. “That could be arranged.”

  “Valen, please let him take you.” Holden isn’t a threat. Conniving and manipulative, sure, but not dangerous. She knows that, too. She’s just being stubborn—not that I blame her.

  “Fine.” Sh
e turns for the stairs, making it halfway down before she turns back around. “Well? Are you coming?”

  “With any luck,” Holden mumbles under his breath.

  “Tell Christian to stick around. Meet back here when you’re done with her?”

  Holden nods before following Valen down.

  Thayer reaches an arm around me to slam the door shut and I flinch, turning to face him with a glare. “Start talking.”

  “Not yet.”

  I shake my head, irritated with these games. “Fine. I need to get cleaned up,” I say, gesturing to my wet dress that sticks to me like a second skin. I smell like beer and I feel like a drowned rat. If we’re going to have some sort of powwow, I’m not going to sit through it like this.

  Thayer jerks his chin toward the hall bathroom. “You know where the shower is. I’ll leave some clothes on the sink.”

  “Great,” I clip out, turning for the door. I pull it open and step into the hall, hesitating at my old bedroom door directly across from Thayer’s. Curiosity has my hand reaching out, hovering over the lever, but I drop it at the last second. That’s not my room anymore. This isn’t my house, and this isn’t my family.

  “It’s empty,” Thayer answers my unspoken question, his voice much closer than I thought he was. A pile of clothes appears in front of me on top of his outstretched palm.

  I swallow hard. Of course it’s empty. What did I expect, that they’d keep it for me, just in case? Without a word, I take the clothes and turn for the door to the left of my old one, then shut it behind me. I flip the lock, then toss the clothes onto the marble countertop. I brace my hands on the edge of it, taking in the white vessel sink, the ceiling showerheads that pour onto you like rain, and the separate oversized bathtub off to the side, separated by only a glass partition. My grandmother’s house is no shack, but it doesn’t compare to the luxury of the Ames’ estate.

  I toe off my wet Chucks, then shrug out of my straps, pushing my dress down my body, letting it fall to the floor. I look in the mirror with fresh eyes, as if I didn’t spend an hour in front of it earlier, trying to see what Thayer sees. My cheeks are red, same with the tip of my nose. My eyes are glassy, and my mascara is smudged a little under my right eye. One side of my curls has gone flat, thanks to Ryan’s beer. I’m a mess, and for once, my appearance reflects exactly how I’m feeling on the inside.