All the Pretty Lies

by Melissa Toppen

  “We’ll see about that.” I give him a pointed look before turning my gaze forward.

  He steps past me, reaching back to snag my hand as he leads us to where Tripp is working on getting the keg tapped. I want to protest the contact, but there’s no time so I go with it. Tripp looks up when he sees us approach, a confused expression crossing his face when he looks down and sees Callum’s hand wrapped around mine. The look quickly fades, replaced by an easy smile.

  “Where the hell did you run off to?” Tripp asks.

  “I had to go grab Poppy,” he says, his voice smooth and natural.

  “Well now that you’ve got her, think maybe you can give me a hand carrying this to the picnic table?” He gestures to a table that sits between their cabin and the one next to theirs.

  “Yeah, I got you.” Callum releases my hand and I’m grateful. He had a death grip around my fingers and wouldn’t let go.

  I watch as he squats down, wraps his arms around the keg, and lifts it off the ground without any assistance from Tripp.

  “Dude, that’s close to two hundred pounds,” he calls after Callum, who’s already halfway to the picnic table.

  “Which is why your pussy ass couldn’t do it by yourself,” Callum calls back, dropping the keg on top of the table seconds later.

  I’m not gonna lie, I’m pretty impressed. Not only did he carry that damn thing by himself, which is not only heavy but also awkward, but he made doing so look easy. I remember a time when he couldn’t even do a pull up on the playground monkey bars. I’m betting now he can do a hell of a lot more than just a pull up.

  “So Poppy.” Tripp steps up beside me. “You enjoying yourself so far?”

  I’ve never been friends with Tripp, but we’ve always been friendly. He’s a nice enough guy. Well, for the most part.

  He plays football with Callum though I can’t remember his position. Safety maybe. All I know is that he’s good. Good enough to land him a football scholarship to LSU in the fall. I was honestly surprised that he didn’t end up at Texas A&M with Callum. Those two have been inseparable since freshman year.

  He’s good-looking. Average height. Muscular, like a lot of the football players. He keeps his dirty blonde hair short and styled back away from his face. And while most of the guys our age are cleaned shaved, he rocks a permanent two-week-old scruff.

  “Yeah.” I shrug, falling quiet when Callum steps up in front of us.

  “There. Anything else, princess?” He pokes fun at Tripp.

  “Fuck you, man. I could’ve done that too. Just thought it would be easier if two of us were on it.”

  “Excuses. Excuses.” Callum clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth.

  “You’re lucky you’re my best friend,” Tripp warns.

  “Am I?” Callum counters, a smile on his face.

  “Man, Poppy, get this dude out of here before I remind him who can kick whose ass.” Tripp nods at someone off in the distance.

  “We can have a go. Settle it once and for all. Though I gotta say, I don’t think the odds are in your favor,” Callum continues to take jabs at his friend.

  “Whatever. I gotta go. I see a certain brunette calling my name.” With that, he slides by Callum and disappears into the crowd.

  “Are you two always like that?” I ask once we’re alone.

  “Sometimes it’s worse.” He chuckles, dropping an arm over my shoulder. I immediately tense. “You need to relax, P. If we’re going to sell this, you’re going to have to trust me. Now come on, let’s get a drink.” Without waiting for me to respond, he tucks me closer to his side and takes off toward the keg, leaving me struggling to match his long strides as I walk next to him.

  CHAPTER SIX

  CALLUM

  “SO, ARE YOU GOING TO tell me what’s going on?” I turn from where I’m refilling mine and Poppy’s beers to see Tripp slide up next to me.

  “What are you talking about?” I play stupid, even though I’m fairly certain I know what he’s referring to.

  “You and Poppy Harris. Since when has that been a thing?”

  “It’s not. I mean, not really. I don’t know. We’re just hanging out.” I shrug indifferently.

  “Just hanging out. Since when? Because last time I checked, you avoided that girl like she had the plague and you’d die if you got within ten feet of her.” He gives me a questioning look.

  “Things change.” I lift my cup to my lips and take a sip.

  “What? Overnight?”

  “Yeah,” I answer honestly. “We got to talking last night. Hung out a little earlier today. I don’t know, man. I think I really like her.” I play it up, knowing that Tripp will spread the shit like wildfire. Which is precisely why I would never tell him the truth. I love the dude, but he can’t keep a fucking secret to save his own life.

  He looks at me like I’ve grown an extra head.

  “Don’t look at me like that.” If I had a free hand I’d probably sock him in the shoulder. “We used to be really close. I guess I’m starting to remember why.”

  “Man, I fucking knew it.”

  “Knew what?”

  “You didn’t just realize you like this girl, you’ve always liked her. Why else would you warn everyone else away from her? Now I get it. You were holding out hope that she’d actually give you the time of day.”

  He’s not entirely wrong. Not the part about me liking her, but the part about me not wanting to see anyone else with her. I never really stopped to ask myself why that is and I’m not about to do it now.

  “Whatever. Did you need something else or can I go now?” I ask.

  “Don’t let me keep you, lover boy.” He bats his lashes dramatically.

  Fucking asshole.

  Without a word, I step past him, making sure to knock my shoulder into his as I do. He grumbles under his breath and I laugh. It’s just how we roll.

  Crossing the crowded grounds, I have my gaze pinned on where Poppy is lounging next to the fire talking to April and Brock who joined us a few minutes ago.

  I’m so laser focused on her that I don’t see the person approaching me until he steps right in front of me, cutting off my path.

  “Blake,” I grind out, thinking this dude has a hell of a lot of nerve to step up to me after the shit he pulled.

  “Hey, man.” He shoves his hands into the front pockets of his shorts, seeming rather nervous.

  I’d be nervous too if I were him.

  “I’m... I just wanna apologize for the shit that went down with Annika. I was wasted. Didn’t know what the hell I was doing.”

  “You were drunk... That’s the excuse you’re going with?” I snort.

  “It’s true, man. I never would have gone there sober. You know that. We’ve been friends for how long? Four years. You know me. You know I would never go after your girl.”

  “So then what? It was just a onetime thing?”

  “It was. Truly. She came onto me, you know. It’s not like I sought her out.”

  “And yet for some reason that doesn’t make me feel any better,” I snarl.

  “I get that you’re pissed. And you have every right to be. But I couldn’t let things go on any longer without at least saying my peace.”

  “And you think now was the right time?”

  “I wanted to give you a few days to cool off.”

  “So that’s why you’ve been dodging me. Afraid I might bash your fucking face in?”

  “Among other things.” He chuckles, rocking back on his heels. “Look, dude, I know what happened was fucked up. I just want to say sorry for the role I played in it. I hope we can put this behind us.”

  “Consider it behind us.” My gaze slides past him to where Poppy is sitting, her eyes glued on me, concern tugging at her features.

  “Seriously?” Blake seems confused. Clearly he thought this would be far more difficult.

  “Seriously. I’ve got my eye on someone else. I don’t plan on exhausting any more time on Annika.”


  If only that were true.

  Blake turns, following my line of sight.

  “Poppy Harris?” he questions, putting two and two together.

  “Poppy Harris,” I confirm.

  “Makes sense, I guess.”

  My gaze swings back to him. “What does?”

  “I mean, you only threatened the entire team within an inch of their lives if anyone messed with her. You’ve cock blocked her entire dating life. You can’t think we all believed there wasn’t a reason. I’m honestly surprised Kyle had the balls to take her to prom last year. Then again, you two have never been friends, so I’m guessing he never got the message.”

  “Are you about done?” I clip, growing tired of this conversation.

  “Yeah.” He blows out a breath. “I won’t keep you from getting back to it. Just wanted to apologize.”

  “Well now that you have, I have more important things to attend to.”

  “So we’re good?” he asks.

  “We’re good.” I blow out a puff of air.

  Yes, I’m still pissed at Blake for making out with my then girlfriend, but I can’t fault the guy. If someone as hot as Annika came onto me, especially when I was drinking, I doubt I’d have the will power to turn her away either. No matter whose girlfriend she was.

  “Awesome. So, I’ll see you around?”

  “Yep. See you around.” I nod, stepping past him before setting off to my original destination.

  When I reach Poppy, I hand her a beer before sliding down into the seat next to her. She slowly lifts the cup to her lips, but her eyes remain trained on me.

  “What?” I ask when she continues to look at me.

  “What was that all about?” She doesn’t have to elaborate; I know exactly what she’s talking about.

  “Blake wanted to apologize for the Annika shit.” I blow out a breath, lifting my own cup to my lips.

  “And did you forgive him?”

  “I did,” I confirm, resting my beer on my leg as I relax back into the chair.

  “I’m not going to lie, when I first saw him approach you, I thought you were going to tear his head off.” She lets out a small giggle.

  “I considered it.” I smirk, giving her a sideways glance.

  “So everything’s good then?”

  “Everything’s good.” I nod, taking another drink of beer.

  “Speaking of your ex-girlfriend, I haven’t seen her around.”

  “She’s coming in tonight. Had some shit with her parents this weekend.”

  “Oh.” Her gaze slides to the fire.

  “Oh?”

  “Nothing.” Her eyes come back to me. “Just didn’t realize she wasn’t here.”

  “If you don’t mind, can we talk about something else?” I ask, reaching my free hand over the arm of the chair before resting it on her forearm. She tenses slightly, but then relaxes within seconds. “You know, if you keep jumping every time I touch you, people aren’t going to buy what we’re trying to sell.”

  “Sorry.” She kneads her bottom lip between her teeth. “I guess I’m not used to it.”

  “What, someone touching you?”

  “No, you touching me.”

  “What are you two whispering about over there?” April leans in, interrupting our conversation.

  “Nothing.” Poppy shakes her head.

  “Uh huh.” April gives her friend a pointed look. “So listen, me and Brock were thinking about going down for a night swim. You guys wanna join?”

  “What do you think, P?” I ask her before answering.

  “I think I’d rather sit this one out. I’m feeling a little tipsy and I don’t trust myself not to drown.” She laughs lightly.

  “You can just wade in the water. You don’t have to actually swim,” April points out.

  “Even still, I’m pretty comfortable right here.”

  “Fine. Party pooper.” April sticks out her bottom lip.

  “Looks like it’s just the two of us.” Brock stands, offering April a hand before tugging her to her feet.

  “Don’t act like you’re disappointed.” I smile at him.

  “You know me too well.” He winks, dropping his arm over April’s shoulder before they both turn and head in the direction of the water.

  “You sure you don’t want to go down there?” I ask Poppy once the two are gone.

  “I saw Heidi and Ethan head down there a little bit ago. Suffice it to say, I really don’t have the stomach to watch the two of them swallow each other’s heads at the moment.”

  “Might be a good opportunity to give them a little show.”

  “Not tonight.” She shakes her head.

  “Okay. Then what do you want to do?”

  “Actually, I should probably find Camila. I haven’t seen her in some time.”

  “She’s over there with Tripp.” I nod my head toward our cabin where Camila is leaning against the banister of the front porch, immersed in conversation with my best friend.

  “Not her too.” She groans loudly.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I try to suppress my laugh. “You don’t like Tripp?”

  “No, it’s not that. Tripp is fine. It’s just... Well, I’ve already got April hanging out with Brock. If Cam and Tripp start hanging out, then that means my two best friends are dating two of your best friends.”

  “And that’s a problem why?”

  “That’s a problem because we’re lying to everyone,” she says in a hushed tone. “When we end things, it might make it weird for them.”

  “I doubt they care that much about our relationship.”

  “You don’t know my friends. I guarantee the only reason Camila is talking to Tripp right now is because she feels free to do so since we’re hanging out.”

  “You really don’t make much sense,” I tell her.

  “She’s stayed away from your crowd for my sake.”

  “My crowd?” I hitch a brow.

  “Look, it’s no secret that we aren’t friends and haven’t been for a long time. Camila is one of those friends that’s all about standing by you. Since I didn’t want anything to do with you or your friends, then neither did she. She didn’t have to know you to dislike you. She disliked you on principle alone. But now the door is open.”

  “Maybe that’s a good thing?” I offer.

  “How is that a good thing?”

  “How is it not?”

  “You don’t understand.” She lets out a soft sigh before taking another drink of her beer.

  “I think maybe you’re thinking too much into this.”

  “Well, it doesn’t much matter now, does it? Don’t get me wrong, if one of my friends likes one of yours, I would support them one hundred percent. I would never stand in the way of their happiness. But I’m worried what kind of blow back there will be when we end this.”

  “You worry too much. Has anyone ever told you that?”

  “Only like every single day.” She laughs. “Besides, after the slut shaming incident at lunch the other day, I doubt Camila would be interested in dating Tripp or any of your other friends. She’s pretty unforgiving.”

  “Seems like she’s forgiven him just fine.” I smirk, my eyes darting back to the porch where Tripp is leaning into Camila, showing her something on his phone.

  “He wasn’t the one saying stuff, so maybe he’s safe.” She shrugs.

  “Okay, enough about our friends. Let’s talk about something else.”

  “Like what?”

  “I don’t know. Anything.”

  “How did your mom’s fundraiser go the other night?” she asks.

  “You knew about that?”

  “I know about quite a lot, actually. She talks to me all the time. Even though I never come over, I think she still has this assumption that we’re still friends. I’m guessing you never told her otherwise.”

  “You talk to my mom?” I question, not sure why this surprises me. My mom has always adored Poppy. I guess I assumed after we stopped ha
nging out...

  “She is my neighbor,” Poppy interrupts my thought.

  “Yeah, good point. And the fundraiser went well. Or I’m assuming it did. She didn’t really say much about it to me.”

  “And you didn’t think to ask?”

  “P, she does these things constantly.”

  “And? That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t show a little interest. Do you have any idea how much I wish I had a mom that I could sit down and talk to? A mom who would tell me about her day over dinner and ask me about mine. You have that and you don’t even appreciate it.”

  “I’m sorry, Poppy.” I lean forward.

  “I don’t need your pity. What I need is for you to appreciate your parents a little more. You really have no idea how lucky you are.”

  “No, I do. I know how fortunate I am to have them.”

  “Good.” She gives me a curt nod.

  “So, your mom...”

  “Nope.” She stops me before I can say more. “We are not talking about my mother. Not this week.”

  “Fair enough.” I slouch back down in my chair. “But you know, you can talk to me. That is if you ever want to.”

  She thinks on that for a long moment before abruptly pushing to her feet.

  “What are you doing?” I ask, smiling when she downs the rest of her beer before setting her cup on the arm of the chair and reaching out for me.

  “Let’s dance.” She grins, wiggling her outstretched fingers.

  “Dance?” I hitch a brow.

  “Why not? We are trying to make a statement tonight, are we not?”

  “I guess we are,” I agree, setting my beer to the side before taking her hands and allowing her to pull me to my feet.

  She stumbles backward slightly as I stand, and I quickly snag an arm around her waist to keep her upright.

  “Someone’s drunk.” I lean in close, not missing the way her breath hitches when I do.

  “Maybe a little.” She smiles, her eyes glazed over.

  “You sure you want to dance? We could always go back to your cabin. That would definitely get people talking,” I tease, only half serious.

  “Not a chance.” She wiggles out of my embrace. “Now come on.” She takes my hand, pulling me toward the large group of people already occupying the makeshift dance floor.