All the Pretty Lies

by Melissa Toppen

  But this is Callum Hanson we’re talking about. A man who’s incapable of commitment and notorious for playing games. I can’t let this become any more than what it is. I won’t.

  “I can help you with that.” Before I’ve even processed his words, my feet leave the sand as Callum tosses me over his shoulder and runs back into the water.

  I squeal, demanding he put me down.

  We’re only in a couple of feet of water when he stops and I go airborne. I catch a small glimpse of Ethan watching us from the beach seconds before I go under, my back hitting the sand that lines the bottom of the lake.

  “You asshole,” I sputter as I resurface, wiping the water from my eyes.

  Callum is standing over me, a very satisfied look on his face.

  “You said you wanted to get the sand off of you.”

  “You could have taken me out a little deeper before throwing me,” I tell him, pushing to my feet, and double checking my bathing suit top to make sure nothing popped out.

  “Now where’s the fun in that.” He snags an arm around my waist and tugs me into him.

  “Now you’re getting sand all over me again,” I groan, his body still caked with grit.

  “We can take care of that.” He lifts me off my feet again, but instead of throwing me, he carries me further out and gently lowers us both into the water. “Better?” he asks, using his hand to wipe away some of the remaining sand on the backs of his arms.

  “Much.” I nod. “So, do you think it worked?” I gesture toward the beach.

  He glances back for a brief moment.

  “Oh, it worked all right.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “Just trust me on this one. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ethan starts talking to you.”

  “He talks to me,” I correct him.

  “Has he spoken to you since you got here?”

  “Well, no, but...”

  “But nothing. Money says that’s about to change.”

  “You’re very sure of yourself. You know that, right?”

  “It’s hard not to be when you’re always right.” He chuckles at the expression that crosses my face.

  “Oh, that’s it.” Without warning, I drag my arm across the surface, sending a wave of water flying at his face seconds later.

  It’s a direct hit.

  “You’re a brave little mouse, P. I’ll give you that much.” His smile turns mischievous. “But maybe not the smartest.” He lunges for me, but somehow I manage to jump just in the nick of time and he misses me.

  “Ha! Ha!” I taunt a little too prematurely because before I can even react, his arms are locked around me and once again I find myself fully submerged under water.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  POPPY

  “HEY POPPY.”

  I’m steps away from my cabin when the sound of Ethan’s voice brings me to a screeching halt. I turn, tightening the towel around me as I do.

  “Ethan. Hey.” Normally, I’d be over the moon to have him talking to me, but it irks me how right Callum was. It’s only been an hour since our little display on the beach and already he’s here.

  But then I remind myself that is the whole point, and I quickly get my head back in the game.

  “I’ve seen you around a few times, but haven’t had a chance to say hello. Are you enjoying yourself?”

  “I am.” I smile. “You?”

  “Yeah, it’s been alright.”

  Alright? That’s how he describes landing one of the most popular girls in school... Alright?

  “So, you and Callum, huh?” He runs a hand through his hair.

  “Yep.” I nod. “You and Heidi?”

  “Yeah.” He rocks back on his heels.

  Okay, this isn’t awkward or anything...

  “So listen, a few of us are going down to the dock tonight to fish. Which really just means we’re going to sneak away from everyone else and get drunk. You maybe want to join us?”

  My heart soars in my chest.

  This is it. It’s working.

  “You can bring Callum, of course. And anyone else you want.”

  And boom, my excitement retreats.

  “Yeah, okay. We might swing by.” I try to play it cool, even though I feel anything but cool at the current moment.

  “Awesome. Well, I hope to see you tonight.” He smiles, tucking his hands into the pockets of his board shorts before turning and heading back down the trail to the water.

  I stay rooted to the spot long after he’s disappeared.

  “Hey Poppy!”

  Damn, I’m popular today.

  I look up as Taylor Brines walks toward me. Instantly, I’m confused. I don’t think Taylor, or any of the other Stepford Wives, as we call them, have ever spoken to me. They are what we call the Elite. Popular, yes, but more known for being rich.

  “Uh, hey,” I blunder.

  “Oh my god, I love that bathing suit.” She gestures to the small part of my white, crochet halter top.

  “Thanks.”

  “Super cute. You’ll have to tell me where you got it.” She briefly pauses, not giving me a chance to respond before she’s talking again. “Anyway, the girls and I were talking and we want to invite you to our cabin tonight for mani/pedis.”

  What the hell is happening right now?

  I must look at her like she has five heads because that’s how I feel.

  Has the world seriously gone crazy?

  First, Ethan invites me to the dock and now I’m being invited to mani/pedis with the Stepford Wives.

  “I, um, thanks for the invite,” I stutter. “But I actually already have plans tonight.”

  “With Callum no doubt.” She smiles wide.

  “Yes, with Callum.” I clear my throat.

  “Well in that case, I’ll let you miss...this time,” she quickly adds. “But don’t think we are going to let you get out of it. Callum Hanson’s new girl. We need all the deets.”

  I’m mildly offended.

  So that’s how people see me now. Not Poppy, but Callum’s new girl. Awesome.

  “Any who,” she sing songs. “I’ll let you get to where you were going. We’ll talk soon, okay?”

  “O-k-a-y,” I stretch out, still scratching my head long after she’s flipped her long, blonde hair over her shoulder and sashayed away.

  “Was that Taylor Brines I saw talking to you?” I hear as I push the door open and step into our cabin.

  I jump, holding my chest when my heart rate quadruples.

  “Shit.” I blow out a breath when I see it’s April. “I didn’t realize you were up here. You scared the crap out of me.”

  “Sorry. I had to come up and change. I had so much sand in my bathing suit bottoms it was starting to rub me raw.”

  “I know the feeling,” I say, given that it’s precisely the same reason I came up to the cabin as well.

  “So what did Taylor want?” she asks, dropping a yellow sundress overtop of her clean swimsuit.

  “To invite me to have mani/pedis with her and the rest of the Stepford Wives.”

  “Shut the front door.” She smacks the side of the bed post. “Guess being Callum Hanson’s new girlfriend has its benefits.”

  “Not sure I would call that a benefit,” I grumble, dropping my towel next to my bed before rooting through my suitcase for a new swimsuit.

  “Still. It has to be exciting. Dating one of the most popular boys in school.”

  “Pretty sure you would know.” I throw her a pointed look. “Brock,” I remind her.

  “Yeah I know. I mean, I really like him. And it’s kind of exciting, but let’s be honest. Brock isn’t Callum. No one is even close to that level. And how weird is it that only a couple of days ago you didn’t even like him? Now you two are all over each other.”

  “Yeah. Weird,” I agree. “I still don’t even know how it happened.” Guilt tightens in the pit of my stomach. While lying about this has become easier, I still don’t feel any better about it. />
  “That’s usually how it goes. Look at me and Brock. Or hell, Tripp and Camila. Sometimes it just happens.”

  “I guess.” I drop my clean bathing suit on my bed before fishing out a pair of jean shorts to wear over top of it, tossing them on the bed as well.

  “It’s like when we got here we were on the second floor and now we’re all the way up in the penthouse.”

  “I think we were at least on the fifth or sixth floor.” I snort, crossing toward the bathroom.

  I pause in the doorway as April continues, “What are the odds though, that we’d all be dating football players a few short weeks out from prom. I wasn’t sure who I was going to go with and now I might get to go with Brock, which excites me a lot more than it should. And then if you go with Callum and Camila goes with Tripp. Oh my god, we can all go together!” she exclaims like she’s just put it all together.

  “I think you might be getting a little ahead of yourself, April. Camila has made it pretty clear that Tripp is a fling and after this week, she’s done with him.”

  “Yeah, but we all know how Camila likes to talk. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s planning their wedding by the time we leave.”

  “God, I hope not.” I chuckle.

  “And what about you and Callum?”

  “What about us?”

  “You two seem to be having a really good time. Think you’re in it for the long haul or just having a little fun?”

  “Oh, we’re just having fun. Once we’re home I give it a week before I want to murder him again, and that’s being generous.”

  “I don’t know.” She seems doubtful. “The way he looks at you. I don’t think you’re going to be able to shake him that easy. Besides, he’s just about slapped a label on your forehead saying PROPERTY OF CALLUM HANSON. He’s staked his claim. He doesn’t plan on letting you go anywhere anytime soon.”

  “Yeah, but you know Callum. He’s got what, an eight-week max dating limit?” I scrunch my forehead. “Let’s just say I’m not letting myself get too attached.”

  “You say that now.” She gives me a knowing look.

  Before this gets any deeper, I change the topic. “Hey, so before I forget, Ethan invited us down to the dock tonight for a little party. You think you and Brock will be able to make it?”

  “Wait. Ethan, Ethan?” she clarifies.

  “Yep.”

  “So let me get this straight, you’re dating Callum, but you’re going to go hang out with Ethan, the guy you’ve been mad crushing on for two years?”

  “What?” I shrug like it’s no big deal. “Callum will be going with me.”

  “Does he know how you feel about Ethan?”

  “He knows the gist.”

  “And he’s okay with you hanging out with him?”

  “One, Callum Hanson does not own me. And two, as I already said, he’ll be going with me.”

  “I don’t know. If it were me, I think I’d want you to stay as far away from Ethan as possible.”

  “Well, then let’s just be glad he isn’t you. Besides, Ethan and I have always been friendly. I’m not going to avoid him now because I’m seeing someone.”

  “I guess.” She lets out a small sigh. “Just be careful. I know how much you like Ethan, and we’ve seen firsthand what happens when you burn Callum Hanson. I don’t want to see you get yourself into a situation that blows up in your face.”

  “I appreciate the concern, but I promise it’ll be fine.”

  “Okay.”

  “So tonight, think you can make it?”

  “I’ll have to check my calendar,” she teases. “Oh wait, it’s completely clear for the week.” She grins wide. “We’ll be there. Or at least I will. I’m assuming Brock will tag along.”

  “Considering he’s been following you around like a lost puppy since we got here, I’ll expect to see both of you there.”

  “Sounds good.” She giggles.

  “Now I just gotta find Cam and ask her.”

  “You know she’ll be game.”

  “Yeah, I figured. But with the Tripp aspect now in play, I’m not sure what she’s got going on.”

  “She’ll probably make him come with her. Who all is going to be down there anyway?”

  “No idea. Ethan said they were fishing, but really that was their excuse to slip away and get drunk without everyone around.”

  “I get that. Having the whole senior class together like this is a little overwhelming. There’s so many damn people.”

  “That there is,” I agree. “Which is why I thought it might be nice to go down to the dock tonight.”

  “Need me to bring anything?”

  “Got any of those little bottles of Fireball left?”

  “Girl, you know I do.” She leans over and opens her suitcase, revealing two unopened cases. Perks of having a mom who runs a hotel; April has access to the stock room, including the small liquor bottles they use to stock the mini bars in the high-end suites.

  “Perfect. We should take a few of those with us.”

  “I’m surprised you want to drink again after last night.”

  “I don’t plan on drinking. Just don’t want to show up empty handed.”

  “You say that now. Money says you’ll be downing these little babies before the sun goes down.”

  “Ha. Ha,” I mock her. “We’re not meeting them until after dark, so there.” I stick my tongue out at her.

  “Doesn’t mean you won’t pop one open.” She laughs.

  “Whatever.” I roll my eyes playfully. “I’m gonna rinse off and change. You heading back down to the beach?”

  “Actually, I think Brock and I are going to go walk some of the trails.”

  “In that?” I point to her dress and flip flops.

  “What?” She looks down at herself. “This is cool and breezy.” She sways, showing how her dress moves. “And I’ve got my bathing suit on underneath if we decide to hit the water afterward.”

  “And the flip flops?”

  “It’s not like I’m going to wear tennis shoes with this dress.”

  “You’re going to regret that later when you have blisters and your feet are killing you.” I point down to her feet.

  “I’ll worry about my feet. You worry about the sand in your who-ha.” She gestures in the vicinity of my girly bits.

  “Speaking of, I’m going to hop in the shower and get this sand off.”

  “You do that.” She smiles. “If I don’t see you before this evening, I’ll meet you down by the dock later tonight.”

  “Okay, sounds good. You guys have fun.”

  “We will.” She grabs her phone and sunhat before slipping out the front door.

  As soon as she’s gone, I close the bathroom door and make quick work of removing my sand filled bathing suit. Flipping the shower on, I wait until it’s warm before stepping under the weak stream. The water pressure sucks, though it’s not really surprising considering where we are.

  I rinse off, running a little conditioner through my hair so that I’ll be able to get a brush through it when I get out. I’ve just turned the water off when I hear the front door open and close.

  Wrapping a fresh towel around my body, I twist another one around my hair before wedging open the door. I don’t see anyone upon first glance, so I push the door open further, my entire body going tense when I spot Callum sitting on the edge of my bed.

  “Um, what the hell are you doing in here?” I bite.

  The luxury of no one else being around... I don’t have to play nice.

  “Relax, P.” He chuckles, his eyes doing a full sweep of my wet, towel covered body, before they finally make their way back up to my face. “April said you were in the shower. A few other people were around.”

  “So you saw it as an opportunity to make them think you snuck up here to what, have sex with me?”

  “I can’t control what they think.” His smile grows wider. “But I assume that’s where most of their heads went.”

  �
�Great. Now everyone is going to think I gave it up after two days. Awesome.”

  “Believe it or not, P, no one cares if it’s been two days or two months.”

  “Says you. You’re not a girl. You won’t get slut shamed.”

  “No one is going to slut shame you.” He shakes his head.

  “Whatever. You need to leave so I can get dressed.”

  “Now why would I do that?”

  “I am not getting dressed in front of you.”

  “That’s fine. I’ll turn around.”

  “You can’t be serious.” Nerves tighten my stomach.

  “Relax. I promise I won’t look.” He pushes to a stand, crossing the room to face the far side wall. “Here, I can’t see a thing.”

  “Seriously, Callum. Can’t you leave for two minutes?”

  “Nope.” He rocks back on his heels, his hands shoved into the pockets of his board shorts.

  “You’re ridiculous,” I grumble, snagging my clothes off the bed where I left them. I very carefully slide my bathing suit bottoms on under my towel and turn so that my back is facing his as I fasten my top in place.

  “Done?” he asks as I’m stepping into my jean shorts.

  “Done,” I confirm, pulling my hair out of the towel before giving it a quick run through with my fingers.

  “Damn, P.” Callum’s gaze skirts across my skin, leaving a trail of heat in their wake.

  “What? Is it too revealing?” I look down at the pale pink bathing suit top.

  “No, you just...” He drags his bottom lip between his teeth. “You look damn good.”

  “Um, thank you?” I say more as a question.

  “I’m serious, P. I don’t know how I never noticed before.”

  “Noticed what?”

  “How beautiful you are.”

  My stomach does a full flip.

  “Don’t get me wrong, I always thought you were pretty but...” He lifts his fist to his mouth and bites down on his knuckles.

  I don’t know if he’s serious or fucking with me, but if I had to guess, I would go with the latter.

  “You know there’s no one around. You don’t have to lie.”

  “Is that what you think I’m doing?”

  The way he’s looking at me makes me feel off kilter and uneasy, but not necessarily in a bad way.