Truth or Dare (Liar Liar Book 2)

by L A Cotton

  “The summer before last at a party. She tried to kiss him. Malachi and Vin saw her. Jay told me right away. But she’d always had a thing for unavailable guys.”

  Didn’t I know it.

  “He would never cheat, Lilly. He loves you.” I was a terrible person—the worst. But it was the truth; Jay would never cheat. He was solid and dependable. He was the guy you took home to meet your parents.

  “Maybe.” She shrugged. “But why would someone do that? I mean it was so graphic and real. How can I look at him the same?”

  “Give it time.” I shouldered her gently. “If he loves you, he’ll wait, and maybe you’ll feel ready to let him back in.”

  The tears glistening in her eyes told me otherwise, but I silently prayed they would figure it out.

  “Still no Evan?”

  “He’s caught whatever his mom had.”

  “Bummer.” Lilly placed a book inside her locker, slamming it shut. “I’d better get to class. And then I’m going to call Scarlett and try to get some answers. It’s senior year; this could ruin her whole future.”

  I watched Lilly walk away, her words ringing in my ears. Ruin her whole future. I’d done that. To protect myself. To save my future.

  But was it worth it?

  Was anything worth it anymore?

  ~

  I miss you.

  I texted back.

  How are you?

  Dying. Eli isn’t helping; he’s making me watch Frozen. Do you know how annoying that talking snowman is?

  I could picture the two of them cuddled up watching the film. It made my heart ache.

  You’ve just got to “Let It Go”

  Not. Funny.

  I smiled, rolling onto my stomach and kicking my legs up. When things were like this between us, it was easy to forget everything else and slip into a false sense of security. Before I could reply, another text came through.

  Come and save me?

  Is your mom home?

  Yes.

  Then no.

  I’d spent time at their house, but I liked to avoid Ellen at all costs.

  Spoilsport

  I ignored that, replying that I hoped he was better soon. School had finished today for the holidays and tomorrow was Thanksgiving, so I doubted we’d get to see one another. But we were supposed to have dinner with my mom and dad Saturday. Dad had taken it better than I thought, but Mom, on the other hand, was having a complete meltdown over it. As if he knew exactly what I was thinking, he texted again.

  I’ll be there Saturday. Count on it x

  It was like Evan knew I was hiding something, and he thought by pushing to meet my parents he would stop me from running. I’d promised I wouldn’t—and I meant it. But I was turning into someone I no longer recognized. This wasn’t about appearance or clothes or a nose piercing; it was about who I was on the inside. And the more Kendall hooked her claws in, the more I lost myself.

  ~

  “Becca, come in here please.” It was Mom’s serious voice, the one that had me backtracking down the stairs and into the kitchen.

  “Yes?”

  “I’m just making sure I have everything for tomorrow. Does he eat meat?”

  “He has a name, and yes.”

  “I’m going to make a pie for dessert. He eats pie, right?”

  “Mom.” I plopped down at the table. “He’s a guy. He’ll eat anything you put in front of him. Just serve the leftovers. There’s enough.”

  Thanksgiving had consisted of far too much of everything. Turkey, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole. We’d made small talk while eating, keeping conversation to safe topics like plans for Christmas and Dad’s work.

  “Well, we’ve never done this, so I just want to do it right.” Her anxiety was kind of sweet if I didn’t know it was a mask for her disapproval at the situation.

  “Look, Evan wants to meet you. If it were up to me, I’d keep him far, far away from you both for as long as possible.”

  “Becca, that’s not fair.” She sighed.

  “You’ve made it pretty clear you don’t trust me to make better decisions, so I think it’s fair.”

  “Becca, please …”

  “I didn’t come in here to argue. Whatever you cook will be fine. Just go easy on him, okay? He’s important to me.”

  “I can’t make any promises,” she said, unpacking the groceries. “But I’ll try.”

  I cracked a small smile. She wasn’t an easy person to get along with at times, but I knew, deep down, that she only wanted to protect me.

  “Thanks, Mom. I’ll be in my room—”

  She cut me off. “We should invite his family over.”

  “Huh?” My jaw dropped open.

  Mom clapped her hands together. “Yes, that’s an excellent idea. Why beat around the bush? If you’re as serious about each other as you insist, we should invite them. It is Thanksgiving, after all.”

  She’d lost it—completely and utterly lost it.

  “Mom, I don’t think—”

  “It’s perfect. Let me know if they can come.”

  I traipsed back to my room in a daze. When had my life gotten so complicated?

  Ellen couldn’t come—there was no way—but if I didn’t ask him, Mom would bring it up and then Evan would want to know why I didn’t ask. Ugh.

  My mom wants to invite your mom and Eli tomorrow

  He replied right back.

  You’re kidding?

  Phew. At least he agreed it was a terrible idea.

  Nope. She’s lost it …

  My phone started ringing, and when I hit answer, Evan’s voice filled the line. “Sounds like it.”

  “She has. She’s downstairs preparing her menu.”

  Evan chuckled. “I missed you this week.”

  “I missed you too.”

  “School was okay?”

  “Yeah.” He’d find out about Scarlett’s situation eventually, but I didn’t want to bring it up.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m in my room. Dad should be getting off early and wants to spend some quality time together. Whatever that means.”

  “It’s nice he cares.”

  “Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean …”

  “Becca, it’s fine. I know your mom has been riding you about me, but you’d hate it more if she wasn’t. It just means she loves you and wants the best for you.”

  “Okay, Mr. Serious, who are you and what have you done with Evan?”

  A loud crash sounded, followed by Evan muttering a string of cuss words, and then his voice sounded far away. “Shit, Eli, I’m coming. Wait there. No, no, don’t touch it.” The line went silent.

  “Becca?” He sounded breathless. “I’ve got to go. He’s destroying the living room. I’ll text you later, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Evan was changing—opening up and jumping in with both feet and his heart. I felt it in his touch, and the way he held me. His love wrapped around me like a blanket, and I soaked it up. But I was selfish. Because it couldn’t last … one way or another, my secrets—the lies—were going to swallow me whole, dragging anyone close enough right down with me.

  Evan

  “Stop tugging it.” I reached to turn down Eli’s collar for the tenth time.

  “It’s scratchy.”

  “So stop touching it.” The door handle rattled from the other side, and I straightened. “Okay, buddy, best behavior.”

  He flashed me a grin, and the door swung open. “Evan, hello, so glad you could make it.” Her voice was strained, but I expected it. Something told me it would take more than one dinner to win her over.

  “Hello, Mrs. Torrence. Nice to see you again.”

  She half smiled although it looked more like a grimace. “Oh, and hello, who are you?” She bent down to Eli, and he stuck out his hand. “I’m E, pweased to meet you.”

  Oh, Jesus.

  “Eli, his name’s Eli.”

  “Nice to meet you, Eli.” She poked
her head out of the door and looked around. “And your mom, is she here?”

  “Hmm, about that, she got called into work. They needed the extra hands what with it being Thanksgiving weekend and all.”

  “I see. Well, come in. Becca, your friend is here,” she yelled, her choice of the word ‘friend’ leaving a sour taste in my mouth. Becca and I were much more than just friends.

  Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and Becca’s eyes landed on the little person standing beside me. A quizzical frown crossed her face, but Eli had other ideas.

  “Becca!” He barrelled past her mom and leaped at Becca, wrapping himself around her waist.

  “Hi, buddy. What are you doing here?”

  “Mom had to work.” The words rolled off his tongue like a well-rehearsed lie.

  “She did, did she?” Becca’s eyes snapped to mine, and I saw the suspicion there, but I wasn’t going to give her the truth here in front of Mrs. Torrence. And besides, if I’d told her Mom had to work last minute, she would have tried to cancel, and I wanted to do this. Needed to do this.

  Becca sighed. “Well, come on. Mom made cookies.”

  “She did?” Eli’s eyes sparkled with delight. “I wuv cookies.”

  “Yes, yes, but not before …”

  It was too late. Eli and Becca were already off to the kitchen, leaving me with her mom.

  “He’s a little hyper sometimes. Sorry.”

  “How old is he?”

  “Four.”

  “I see, and you’re eighteen?”

  I nodded. I knew what she was thinking, so I cleared it up for her. “He wasn’t planned,” I said.

  “Oh, I see.”

  I stifled a laugh. I didn’t know who was more nervous; her or me. There wasn’t time to overthink it because an older man with graying hair and Becca’s eyes stepped into the hallway. “Hello, you must be Evan. I’m Becca’s father, Geary.” He stuck out his hand, and I accepted.

  “Nice to meet you, sir.”

  “Did I hear a child laughing?”

  “Yes, yes, you did,” the mom said. “Evan brought his little brother with him.”

  “How wonderful. It’s been years since we had a child running around the house. Can I get you a beer, Evan?”

  “Geary.” She gasped, her eyes widening in horror.

  “Now, now, Melinda. It’s one beer, and I’m sure it wouldn’t be the first time.” He flashed me a knowing grin. I liked this guy. He was real. He reminded me a lot of Becca.

  “Thanks, Mr. Torrence, but I’m driving.”

  “Please never call me Mr. Torrence again; it sounds far too stuffy. Geary is just fine.”

  I nodded, following them into the kitchen. It was a real kitchen, separate from the living room. Eli was busy tucking into a cookie while Becca got him juice. “Do you want one?” she asked me, and I shook my head. Her nerves showed in the red stain on her cheeks and down her neck. It was cute.

  “Did you have a nice Thanksgiving?” Geary asked me, leaning back against one of the counters.

  “We didn’t do much. Mom’s been sick, and I haven’t felt too well.” The reality was Mom had gone to Elaina’s the night before and got wasted, so Eli spent the day trying to coax her out of bed.

  “Well, I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Shall we get seated?” Melinda ushered us to our seats, and I tucked Eli onto the chair beside me. Becca sat to my left with Geary opposite and Melinda to his left.

  “I hope you like pulled pork?”

  Eli smacked his lips together. “It’s the bestest.”

  Everyone burst into laughter. Even Melinda managed a smile, and some of the earlier tension disappeared. We could do this. I could be the guy they wanted for their daughter—the kind of guy who went to dinner and made conversation.

  Becca’s leg pressed against mine under the table as she leaned up to serve us. I ran a hand over the curve of her thigh, and her breath hitched. I smiled.

  Maybe this would even be fun.

  ~

  “Quite a little boy you have there,” Geary said handing me the last of the dishes.

  “He’s a handful, but he has a good heart.”

  “It can’t be easy, helping to raise him.”

  My hand froze. “I’m … hmm, I’m not …”

  “It’s okay; you don’t have to answer to me. You’re doing a good job with him. Melinda said your mom is at work?”

  “Yes, she got called in at the last minute,” I managed to reply over the giant lump in my throat. “Our sitter is out of town for a while. She helps out when Mom is at work and I’m at school.”

  Why was I telling him this? A man I’d never met before today? It felt oddly comforting to know someone gave a crap.

  His hand landed on my shoulder. “I was worried, you know, when Melinda first mentioned that Becca might be seeing someone. She’s my daughter, my everything, but I can see I have nothing to worry about.” He patted me and moved away.

  “Dad?” Becca entered the room, but I didn’t need to look. I’d felt her before she even spoke.

  “I’m going to check on your mother and Eli.”

  “He’s out cold on the couch. Mom looks terrified; you might want to get in there before she has a breakdown.”

  Geary let out a throaty laugh before leaving us. Becca came up to me, wrapping her arms around my waist and leaning her head against my back. ”Do I even want to know?”

  “He told me if I ever hurt you, he’d have to kill me.”

  Her body went rigid. I dried my hands off with the towel and turned in her arms. “Hey, what’s wrong? I’m joking.” She looked like a deer caught in the headlights. “Becca, it was a joke. He’s a good guy; I like him a lot.”

  Becca blinked, and the tension in her face melted away. “He’s the best. Now we just have to crack Mom.”

  Her mom hadn’t been that bad. She’d made a couple of snide comments during dinner, asked some questions that I just didn’t have the answers to, but on the whole, it had gone okay. Eli kept the mood light. It was impossible not to love the little shit.

  “So …” I leaned down, my face hovering millimeters from hers. “Is this the part where we sneak off to your room?”

  “Evan.” She gasped, and I couldn’t resist. My lips crushed against hers, and I slipped my tongue into her mouth, drawing her body closer with my arm. Becca’s hand slid up my chest and curled in my t-shirt.

  “God, I missed you,” I murmured against her lips, and she responded, pressing closer, moaning softly.

  “Uhh, hmm.” Someone cleared their throat, and my heart sank. It couldn’t have been her dad.

  “Hi, Mrs. Torrence. I was just telling Becca what a lovely meal you cooked.”

  Becca pressed her face into my chest while I smiled at Melinda. But she wasn’t smiling. Her eyes narrowed as she clipped out, “Your brother is asleep. I think it’s probably best you take him home so he can sleep.”

  “But Mom …” Becca turned around.

  “It’s fine.” I dropped a kiss on her head, not wanting to make things any worse. “I’ll text you later.”

  Melinda moved aside to let me past, and I realized my error. Today hadn’t been about getting to know me; it was to gather her case against me.

  And I’d given her all the ammunition she needed.

  ~

  “Evan, wait.”

  My hand lingered on the door.

  “Evan, please.”

  I turned slowly, and Becca came to a breathless halt in front of me. “I’m so sorry.” Her voice cracked with regret.

  “There’s nothing to be sorry for. Look, I should get him home.” I flicked my head to Eli, sleeping soundly in his seat in the back of the Impala.

  “Evan.” She stepped closer. “Don’t let her come between us. She’s just protective.”

  It was more than that. I saw the way she looked at me—like I didn’t deserve her daughter. Like I wasn’t good enough for her daughter.

  Maybe I wasn’t.

&nbs
p; “I get it.” It came out shorter than I intended. I knew it wasn’t Becca’s fault her mom felt the way she did, but I knew how it went. Melinda would be whispering in her ear, determined to make her daughter see things from her perspective. They might have ended up in Credence, but they came from a different world.

  Becca’s hand pressed against my chest, dancing up my torso to my jaw. “I love you, Evan. I’m in love with you. I don’t care what she thinks. I’m eighteen; I’m not a child. Don’t let her do this.” Her eyes pleaded with me, but I was stuck on the part where she said she loved me.

  My mouth landed on hers, hard and punishing. Her mom was probably spying on us from the window, watching everything, but I couldn’t find it in me to care. Becca had chosen... and she’d chosen me.

  “Evan ... breathe ... I need to breathe.”

  Releasing her, I ran my nose along her cheek and whispered, “I love you, too.”

  “Is your mom really at work?” She didn’t acknowledge my declaration. “I could come back with you until she gets back?”

  “Is that a good idea?” My eyes scanned the house, expecting to see the curtains swish. They didn’t.

  “Dad’s making your case as we speak. I want you, Evan.” Desire flashed in her eyes.

  “I lied. Mom’s not at work. She’ll probably be gone all night. My aunt and uncle throw this big party every year. It gets messy. I didn’t want to ...”

  “Shh.” She pressed a finger to my lips. “I understand.”

  “He might wake up.” I flicked my head to where Eli was.

  A smile tugged at her lips. “I’ll take the risk.”

  The drive back to my house was quiet, interrupted only by Eli’s baby snore. I carried him inside and tucked him in. Becca was sitting on the edge of my bed. Her eyes slid to mine as I watched her from the doorway.

  “She’ll be gone all night?”

  I nodded, heat flashing through me.

  “I’m sorry my mom is such a bitch. She wasn’t always like this.” Becca dropped her head, and I stalked forward, kicking the door shut behind me.