Pretty, Twisted Lies: A friends to lovers standalone

by Emily Bowie

  “I think I’m going to give up on singing,” she confesses, and my heart stills, hating that she’s willing to give up on what she loves so much. Immediately, I sit up, keeping her in my lap.

  “Don’t. That would be the world’s greatest loss.” Kellie could never hide her feelings from me. The half-smile she forces screams to me that her heart is breaking just having to say this out loud. “What happened this summer?”

  “Why did something have to happen?”

  “Singing is your ticket into a new life.”

  “What if I’m starting to like the visions of a different new life I could have?” She stares at me in a way that says she wants to be included in my life. She comes from money, power, and popularity. I’m some poor kid making himself a name, but not in the same world she lives in. My world is dark, dirty, and dangerous.

  All she sees is a boy who turned into a man who works hard and is building up businesses that one day can provide for a family. A family I’m not sure I would ever be able to protect from my way of life.

  “Why can’t you have both?” I’m a coward, allowing her to believe it’s possible. “Once you’re a fancy singing sensation, you will have the world at your fingertips. You can do anything and have anything you want.”

  I think we both know deep down that having one comes at a cost of losing the other in some form. Or maybe it’s my guilty conscience making me think she knows this too.

  She looks me right in the eyes, her blue gems shining. “At least for this year, I plan to stop worrying so much about it and have fun.”

  “Never stop. It’s a part of you.”

  “How is it that you are my number one supporter?” she asks in awe.

  “It’s because I can see how perfect you are. I know you’re designed to create greatness.” I’m not bullshitting her either. I mean every word.

  She takes my breath away. Her kindness, her beauty, her everything. I want to tell her; it’s on the tip of my tongue.

  Then the door opens, the lights get flicked on, and screaming erupts. Kellie’s face is what frightens me the most. She instantly turns white, screaming while covering herself up. Two old women in what looks like old-fashioned nun outfits are barking orders left, right, and center.

  I look to Kellie, who is screaming for me to leave, her eyes scared to death. I jump out of the window naked, not bothering with any of my clothing. I run through the lush grass barefoot, lights shining on me, sirens bellowing. It sounds like a prison break. I slip through the forest, hard twigs and rocks cutting into my feet. I don’t stop running, not wanting to cause Kellie more trouble, and for the fact that I’m scared they really do have a gun they won’t hesitate to use.

  So much for the perfect reunion.

  CHAPTER 22

  I don’t sleep once I get back to the mansion. Instead, I call up Russ and we go on a run, picking up a car two towns over and dismantling it in boxes to be shipped all over the world by the time the sun is up. By the time most people are having their morning coffee, those boxes have left our hands and are traveling to buyers. Not bad for a night’s work.

  My feet are tired from standing on the hard concrete. I allow my body to fall into the ripped-up couch we have in the back, and Russ tosses me a Corona. I catch it above my head.

  “You could have just opened it and passed it to me.”

  Russ is standing about ten feet away from me, looking like he’s trying to figure something out.

  “Just wanted to see if you had your reflexes when you keep checking your phone.”

  I roll my eyes while bending over and popping the top off on a stool nearby. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. My phone has stayed in my pocket the whole night.” I try to blow him off. Russ is my closest friend. Our fathers were best friends, so naturally, we became best friends.

  “Is it that all-girls school chick?”

  He drags a chair closer to me, and he has this look that he won’t be letting this subject go. “I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen you run home naked before.” He chuckles.

  Shit, I didn’t think anyone saw.

  He ignores my silence and keeps talking. “She’s cute as hell.” I glare at him, both of us taking a drink. “Her friends look like they could handle this business, but she seems—” His words linger as he thinks about the right word. “—innocent?”

  “She’s not innocent,” I croak, turning my head to him. Flashes of her soft skin on mine, her pink nipples in my mouth, and the way she felt when my cock finally settled into her tight pussy fill my mind. I want to groan from how amazing she felt.

  “So, you two are fucking.”

  “What are you, a fucking chick?” I take a sip of my beer, hating that he seems to be questioning me.

  “I just need to know what I have to protect us against.”

  “She’s not like that,” I scoff.

  “I’m meaning her family. Heiresses like her don’t end up with guys like us.” He points to me. “And it has nothing to do with our social class.”

  Scratching at my head, I realize I might as well come out with it. When Russ thinks he smells blood, he won’t stop.

  “Her family has nothing to do with this. She’s fun and wild in her own way. She has big dreams and won’t be sticking around because of me.” A part of me wishes that she would though. “She wants a good time, and I supply it.” Lies, all lies. It would make everything so much easier.

  “She has the power to ruin you. You’re too close to her.” He stands up, starting to pace. “I’m already envisioning the disaster of all this.”

  “Honestly, I doubt this conversation even matters anymore. The fucking nuns caught me in her room.”

  “Do they know who you are?” Russ stands still and straight, narrowing his eyes on me.

  “No. She’s not going to give a name either. We both know the school has a zero-tolerance policy on any cock in the bedroom. If they haven’t shipped her back home already, they will tomorrow.”

  “You were sloppy and reckless. I’ve never known you to put anyone’s needs before your own. This girl has changed you.”

  I smile at the idea of that.

  “It’s not a compliment. We can’t do the type of business we do if people have a vendetta against you.”

  I feel the side of my pants, still silent. I honestly thought she would call or text me by now. They could have found the phone, making my life a hell of a lot harder.

  “Don’t worry. It’s over.”

  “I’m worried that it’s not. You’ve just tangled us in a web of lies.”

  Finishing my drink, I can feel my eyes are heavy, but I’m no closer to sleep.

  “Don’t be dramatic, ‘web of lies.’ Did you get your fucking period today?” I shake my head. “This is nothing but a bunch of stories she can fluff up when she tells her grandchildren about her fun years at boarding school. Because we all know she will marry some boring banker who probably can’t get it up by his fortieth birthday unless it’s at a strip joint.”

  He starts heading for the door, signaling he’s ready to go home. As he places his hand on the doorknob, he turns slightly to me, getting the last word in. “You’re pretty passionate, considering she’s only a girl you’re banging.”

  He leaves no room for me to say otherwise as he leaves the back area, going home to sleep it off until his shift in the afternoon. I make a mental note to make one of the other rooms into a sleeping zone for when we pull all-nighters. They seem to be becoming more of a reoccurrence.

  *

  “You realize, once you crash, you’re going to be out for a whole day?” I look up from fixing up another new bike. I’m a little disappointed this one needs so little work. “Didn’t you just get a new bike?”

  I shrug, continuing to tweak the bike. “Decided I didn’t like it.”

  “You could buy a new one. Like off-the-lot type of new.”

  “Then what would my ass do when you’re sleeping.” Lifting my eyes, I show him my smirk, letting
him know I’m trying to get under his skin.

  “Suit yourself.” He starts to walk away, but my voice stops him.

  “Speaking of Suit.” I stand up. “I want to start buying all his debt from his collectors.”

  Russ is giving me this look like I’m crazy. “You really didn’t like his minion kicking your ass, huh?” he teases me.

  “We both know it’s more than that. He’s scum, and I take pleasure in burying those who think they’re better than me.”

  “Uh-huh.” He’s silent as I go back to pretending to work. I’m mostly just wiping it down, hoping he’ll leave.

  “I’ll work on it. It’s going to drain most of your money.”

  “I’ve never been in it for the money.”

  “What the hell, man? Why are we risking all this then?” Russ yells, losing his patience with me.

  “Because I can. I like proving to everyone that I have more power than them. So when people look down on us, I can bury them, having them at my mercy!” I holler back, angry I’m even being questioned. I’ve made him a shitload of money; he should be thanking me.

  Standing, I go to him. “If you have an issue, you better say it now. Next time, I won’t be so kind.”

  Russ stands his ground, never faltering. He pulls up taller, ready to take me on. It’s what makes him the best type of right-hand man; he’s not afraid to get in my face, but right now, I find it annoying as hell.

  “Get your shit together.” The spit from his words hits me. My fingers curl into a fist, wanting to hit something, anything, but mostly Russ’s face. I haven’t gotten into a fight since Suit stopped by last. My adrenaline keeps pumping through my body. I need a fight or I’m going to take this out on the wrong person.

  “Have it done within forty-eight hours. Then we’re going on a road trip.”

  CHAPTER 23

  September

  The phone Kiptyn gave me never leaves me. It’s burning a hole in my pocket. He hasn’t messaged me. I expected him to contact me somehow.

  I’ve typed out a few messages, only to just delete them. I’m scared he’s been reminded I’m too young for him. Worried he doesn’t want to deal with the drama of me still being in school. He owns his own business, a thriving one it seems too. He lives on his own, pays bills, everything an adult should do. Then there’s me. In school, living with my parents, and I have no bills to speak of, with no job. I feel insignificant compared to him. I think that’s what’s keeping me from contacting him first.

  “Kellie,” my mom calls from the bottom of the stairs.

  Coming down, I see Noah Preston waiting for me at the bottom of the landing. I’ve been forced to associate with him my whole life. He’s the biggest pothead, good-time-having trust fund kid I know. He’s interning in my father’s office, and his dad is very prominent in my father’s campaigns, making us new best friends in our parents’ eyes.

  The only way I’m getting out of this house after being expelled from school is with this guy.

  Reaching the main floor landing, my parents are showing off their “we’re the best parents” act they have perfected over the years. My dad is looking as polished as ever in his signature look—a tailored suit and tie. He’s shaking hands with Noah, making it seem like he gives a shit. I hear him giving Noah the daughter rules: no drinking, no drugs, keep your hands to yourself, and if you’re going to be late, call. Since I’m with Noah, there will be no curfew, because we could be with other people who could promote my father or help with funding. This is an opportunity to make connections.

  My mother looks happy and still steady on her feet. A first in too long of a time. She gushes about how adorable we look, and Noah places a chaste kiss to my cheek, making her swoon even more.

  I have to force my hands to stay at my sides and not wipe the feel of his lips from my cheek. It feels wrong to have someone other than Kip kiss me, even on the cheek.

  “Well, go on, you two, before your mother decides she wants pictures.” It’s weird to see my father with a smile on his face. It’s typically a resting scowl. He must need something from the Prestons.

  Noah opens his convertible door for me before going to his side. We wave to my mother, who’s standing on the doorstep.

  “Are your parents as embarrassing?” I look over to my so-called date.

  He chuckles. “I think our parents took lessons together.”

  It feels so good to have fresh air and be out of the house. “What did you do to get on house arrest?”

  “Got caught naked with a local in my room.”

  He wiggles his eyebrows. “A local girl?” As I slap his arm, we both laugh out loud.

  “Does that mean I’m going to get some tonight?” At least he’s honest and straight to the point.

  “You better have a backup plan.”

  “You are the backup plan.” He winks at me while driving away from my gated community.

  “Do girls actually go for the lines you give them?”

  “I find the more brutally honest I am, the harder they try.”

  I shake my head in disbelief at the fact that girls honestly do that.

  “Where are we going?” I ask, changing the subject.

  “To my dealer, then we’re club hopping once I get fucked up.”

  “I thought you were at least going to feed me,” I tease.

  “Oh, I can feed you, but I don’t think it’s what you want.” He looks to me then down to his pants-covered dick.

  “Really?” I roll my eyes. I haven’t missed this, and to think at one point in my life I thought I was missing out.

  “You’ve been gone far too long. What happened to the girl who smoked just to piss her parents off? Or the girl who tried to get caught sneaking out just to get a reaction?”

  “I have found I prefer them to ignore me and pretend I don’t exist,” I answer honestly.

  “Man. Maybe you need to get more fucked up than I do.”

  He taps on the steering wheel before pulling a U-turn in the middle of traffic, cutting off cars and nearly plowing headfirst into on-coming traffic. Lord, Noah drives like shit.

  “I changed my mind. We’ll eat first. I didn’t realize you were so green. I don’t need to be taking you to the hospital on our first date.”

  “First fake date,” I clarify.

  He laughs some more before tapping my hand. “Whatever you say.”

  I let this slide; after all, he’s doing me a favor. If I’m being honest, Noah is a good guy, just a little misled in his ways. He and I have always gotten along fine.

  For the first time ever, it feels good to be back home and seeing my old friends from before my parents decided boarding school was the way to go. They welcomed me right back into their world. I hadn’t expected everyone to be so warm, considering I was never able to contact them during the school year. Then between my parents keeping me at home and trying to become a singer, when I was here in the summer, I saw next to no one.

  *

  “Here.” Noah slaps what looks like an ID into my hand. We’re on the busy sidewalk of Broadway. Tourists are rushing past. There’s some guy in costume as the president having his picture taken with people for money. All types of music mix together from the multiple bars that surround us. Lights of all different colors dance into the night, luring people to their place.

  “What’s this?” Holding the plastic in my hands, it’s a picture of me, the only thing different is the year I was born.

  “Think of it as a welcome home gift.” He places his finger up to my lips, silencing my comeback. “I don’t want to leave because you can’t get in.”

  “I would never make you leave with me.”

  He levels me with a look. “You’re out with me. I’m not some asshole who would let you leave while I drink it up at the bar. We leave together unless we both agree there is something better we each want to do.” He shrugs. “Or someone.” His smirk makes me laugh.

  Linking my arm around his, I lean into him. “I guess you’
re stuck with me. I can promise you; I won’t be leaving with anyone other than you tonight.”

  “I won’t be offended if you do.” He kisses my cheek just before we get to the back entrance.

  There is a big bald guy standing at the door who gives Noah a fist bump.

  “Good to see you,” Noah greets him, and I swear he slips some money into the guy’s palm.

  The bouncer opens the door, music escaping into the night as we walk into the dark room. Stepping in, we’re just behind the main floor stage where a band is playing.

  Country lyrics are belted out from a deep voice wearing a cowboy hat. Both Noah and I stop and listen. “Good evening! I’m Rhett Steele, and this is my band for tonight…” The singer begins to introduce the other people on stage, and the crowd is going wild. He had a concert earlier tonight and must have decided he wasn’t done yet. Noah directs me toward stairs that go up to the next level, leaving one sound for another.

  Upstairs, there is another band on a stage, but this one is more pop-like than anything. “I have a surprise for you,” Noah says into my ear over the music. As if on cue, the band ends their song.

  “We have a special guest here tonight,” the lead singer announces. “This woman will one day be telling tales of how she first played here before she made it big. Mark my words. Please welcome Kellie Dare to the stage.”

  My mouth opens as I look from Noah to this singer in shock.

  “You’re welcome!” He gives me a small push from behind as I walk to the stage. This can’t be happening. My smile is splitting my face. I have dreamed of being able to do this. Looking over my shoulder, I see Noah is clapping his hands like the rest of the floor.

  “I can’t believe I’m standing up here,” I say in greeting, the microphone picking it all up, making the crowd cheer. It feels incredible and liberating.