Lying Hearts
Kelli Callahan
Copyright © 2020 by Kelli Callahan
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Epilogue
Kiss My Boss
Join My Mailing List
Kelli’s Voracious Vixens
About the Author
Also by Kelli Callahan
Prologue
Luna
Ten Years Old
The grass tickled my ankles as we ran through the yard and giggled. My best friend Easton came over, and as usual, he was being annoying and wanting to play tag, only every time he tagged me, he never stopped tagging me, and it ended up being a game of chase.
“I’m going to get you,” Easton laughed as he ran after me around the yard.
I screamed when he almost got to me, pumping my legs quicker to get away from him. He was so fast. “Easton, stop it! I’m getting a cramp!” It was hot out, and my face was burning up. I needed a break.
“Okay, time out. Water break,” he said as we slowed down and came to a complete stop. The wind finally blew and it felt good, drying my sticky skin.
“Thanks, Easton. I can never outrun you.” I skipped to the porch and sat down on one of the steps, the one where Easton and I wrote in permanent marker that we would be best friends forever. We had been inseparable ever since kindergarten, and I just knew nothing could tear us apart.
We pinky promised each other.
“Here you go, Moon,” he said, calling me the nickname he gave me when we first met and he found out my name meant moon. I took the small bottle of water from him and unscrewed the cap, drinking it until my brain hurt from the cold water.
I hissed, pressing my hand against my head. “Ow, brain freeze!”
“Put your tongue on the roof of your mouth,” he told me in a hurry.
I did as he said, and in a few seconds, it worked. I perked up, happy when it no longer hurt. “Wow, that really worked.”
“You know I always have your back, Moon.”
“I know.” I laid my head on his shoulder as we waited for our lungs to calm down. Easton was cute, and I secretly had a crush on him, but no one was allowed to know, not even Easton. I was too afraid.
“Kids, you have ten minutes before you need to come inside for dinner!” my mom yelled out the kitchen window like she always did.
“Aw man,” Easton pouted like a big baby.
“Maybe they will let us have a sleepover!” I gasped, suddenly excited to build forts and tell ghost stories. Easton always had the best ghost stories.
“You think so? You need to ask your mom.”
I looked at him with big eyes and shook my head. “No way. She likes you more. You ask her!” I said. “She always says yes to you.”
“She does not,” he argued with me.
“Does too, Easton!” I stomped my foot and crossed my arms over my chest, glaring at him in a way that told him I would win this fight. I always do.
He rolled his eyes and sipped his drink. “Fine, but if she says no, you have to beg her. I’m not doing that.”
“Big baby.” I stuck my tongue out at him, and he got that look on his face that told me I better run.
“Oh, you’re going to get it!”
I screamed as I leaped off the porch in a fit of laughter and ran around the big oak tree that had been in the yard way before I was born, according to my dad. We ran in circles, and I stopped on the other side of the tree and tip-toed around the large super round tree trunk. I tripped over one of the roots sticking out of the ground and almost fell face-first into the dirt when Easton caught me by the arm and lifted me onto my feet.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, that was close,” I said, embarrassed that I tripped, to begin with. I was always falling. I had the scars on my knees to prove it.
“You need to be more careful. What if I’m not around to catch you?”
“Why wouldn’t you be around?” I asked him. The thought of him not being around made my eyes water.
He took a hold of my hands and grinned, the gap between his two front teeth bigger than ever, even with braces. “How about we get married right now? We swear to each other that we will always be there for one another.”
I crinkled my nose. “Ew, like mom and dad? They kiss.”
“What? No, that’s weird. Just like a best friend marriage.” He had a look on his face that said he was equally as disgusted. Good. Boys had cooties.
I jumped up and down and clapped, squealing with joy. “Okay, when?”
“Right now. I’ve seen a lot of movies where they do this because my mom loves romance,” he gagged, poking a finger in his mouth, causing me to giggle. He laced his fingers with mine, and I stood straighter, staring into his eyes that reminded me of my favorite blue crayon. “I, Easton Moore, promise to be the bestest friend to you, Luna Nightingale. Forever and ever. Nothing will ever tear us apart. I love you more than chocolate milk. Okay, your turn. You go.”
Wow. More than chocolate milk. That was serious. I cleared my throat and tilted my chin. “I, Luna Nightingale, swear on the moon to be the bestest friend ever, to you, Easton Moore. Forever and ever. Nothing will tear us apart. I love you more than Fish, the cat.”
He gasped and pulled me into a hug. “More than the cat? You’re the best, coolest girl in the world, Luna.”
I knew in that moment that our best friend marriage would last for eternity.
Only fools believed love lasted forever though; only I didn’t know that.
Not yet.
Fifteen years old
I hated Easton Moore with every fiber of my being. He was not the kid I made an everlasting promise with under the oak tree at my house. Easton grew up to be a shallow, inconsiderate, rude, and mean person. We had grown apart. It happened so fast. One day we were playing tag, the next, I was the nerd and dork that he couldn’t be seen with.
His voice had me turning my head as he walked down the hall with a few jocks flanking his sides. Easton was in the middle, tall, gorgeous, and he just got his braces off. His good looks only made me hate him more.
Our eyes met, and it was like he didn’t even know me.
It hurt more and more every day.
“Are you okay?” my new best friend London asked as I slammed my yellow locker closed and spun the lock.
My brows creased as I hefted my books into my arms. “I’m fine. Why?”
“You haven’t heard?” she looked mortified.
“Heard what?” We started walking down the hallway, and I was left staring at the letterman jacket Easton wore. All state, all conference, stupid quarterback.
She tugged my arm and pulled me to the side. Before she could tell me, my other best friend Oliver came to our side. and he looked at me with squinty eyes as he assessed me. “How are you not kicking
his ass?”
“What? Who? You guys are confusing me, and I’m going to be late to Mr. Gibbons’ class.” I glanced around the hall to see everyone staring, laughing, and pointing fingers at me. An unsettled weight lodged itself in my stomach. “What’s going on?”
“There is a rumor that Easton got you pregnant and you are so desperate for him that you said if he wouldn’t be with you, you’d you know—” London leaned in and whispered, “get an abortion.”
I gasped and stumbled back. I felt like I just got slapped in the face. My heart shattered. Tears sprung to my eyes, and I tossed my books down, turned my head to the fleeting Easton Moore, and stomped my way down the hall. I hated him so much. Why couldn’t he just leave me alone?
I wished I never met him.
“Easton!” I yelled at the top of my lungs to get his attention.
“No, don’t, Luna!” London tried to stop me, but I pulled out of her grasp and ran down the hall. Easton turned around with a cocky knowing smile, and I shoved his chest.
“What the hell is your problem? Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
“What is it, Luna?” His eyes sparkled with mischief and lies. “You come to get you more?” He laughed while his jock friends slapped his back. There was no remorse in his eyes, and I knew that nothing I said would make a difference.
“I’d never sleep with you, Easton. Ever. I don’t know what game you’re playing at, but I am not pregnant.”
“You made sure of that, didn’t you?” one of the jocks scoffed, hinting that I already had the abortion.
“You’re going to let this happen? You’re going to let them talk about me like that?” I didn’t want to cry, but I felt my eyes getting ready to burst and overflow. “What the hell happened to you, Easton? The guy that used to care about me couldn’t care less. What did I ever do to you?”
I saw it. The split second of him feeling guilty. He felt bad, but as soon as it came, it was gone, replaced with a smug smile. “You wish I cared about you like that. You already miss me, don’t you?”
“I couldn’t miss you less, Easton. That’s the truth. Tell them I’m not pregnant. Tell them we have never been together. Tell them!” I shoved his chest again, and he laughed, faking fear as he lifted his hands.
“Why would I lie about that? You practically threw yourself at me.”
My mouth fell open as I watched him turn around and head toward the gym with his friends, leaving me with tears running down my face. What was worse was that I knew I could never hate Easton.
And I hated myself for it.
“Back the fuck away!” a loud voice bellowed, and I recognize it anywhere. It was Ethan, the second oldest Moore brother. “Take my word for it assholes, my brother is full of shit and is as much of a virgin as any of you. He is a lying sack.” People started to disperse, but I was left in the middle of the hall, my arms wrapped around my stomach, and London and Oliver flanking my sides.
Ethan cupped my face and brushed away my tears. “Hey, you okay, Luna?”
I shook my head, doing my best not to break down and sob. I wanted to be stronger, but I had no idea how the guy I married under an oak tree could be so cruel to me. Ethan grabbed my backpack off the ground and wrapped his arm through the strap.
The rest of the brothers were always so nice to me. “Come on, let’s get you out of here. We can skip class and go get one of those milkshakes you love so much from Kathy’s.”
“No, I don’t want to run away,” I said. “I don’t want him to win.”
“He already has, Luna. Everyone believes him. I’m sorry my brother is an ass. You still have the rest of us Moore’s. I’ll be by your side,” he said. Over the years, while Easton and I were friends, I got close with the other brothers too, and they kind of became a second family. I loved them to pieces. I just hated that I loved Easton the most.
“You might get thrown under the rumor mill if you hang out with me.”
“I’m alright with that. We know the truth, Luna. That’s what matters.” Ethan wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “Come on, let's skip and have a good day. This place can suck it.”
I laughed from the crude language and wiped my face. “Okay, but can we go play putt-putt too?”
“Can we? I’m going to kick your butt in putt-putt,” Ethan grinned as he held the door open for me. The fresh air felt amazing against my red, wet cheeks. I took a deep breath and smiled. He was right. I needed this.
“We are coming too,” London said, dragging Oliver behind her as we made our way to Ethan’s truck.
As I climbed into Ethan’s truck, I saw Easton outside with his friends throwing the football. He watched, never taking his eyes off me, and for the first time, I was the one to rip my eyes away.
I was done with Easton Moore.
Forever and ever.
That oak could burn to the ground for all I cared.
Chapter One
Luna
Present day
After I graduated high school, I went to college in Boston, Massachusetts and ended up staying in the city after I graduated with my degree in business and design. I worked at a small boutique that made me realize I wanted to have my own store one day. Nothing changed much in the last seven years besides the fact that I was twenty-five now, and London and Oliver had to come visit me in Boston since I always refused to go home unless it was absolutely necessary.
Like now.
But this time, it wasn’t a visit. I had to move home because Dad got diagnosed with Leukemia, and Mom was pulling doubles at the hospital as a nurse. I couldn’t in good conscious stay in Boston when my family needed me.
As I packed up the one−bedroom apartment nestled in downtown Boston, dread crept in my veins about leaving this place. I loved it here. I loved the snow. I loved the culture, the city, the historical architecture of the buildings, and the food.
I loved the food.
There was this place called Faneuil Hall, and it had every single food from every culture you could think of. Knowing that I was leaving this staple to go to a small town that had one diner and a McDonald’s didn’t sit well with me.
I had grown as a person by leaving Camden and now I had to go back, granted, it was for the best reason. Camden held nothing but bad memories for me, and since no one ever left that town, everyone knew everyone.
Which meant everyone knew Easton, who was a big part of the reason why I never went home. I left, wanting to get as far away from him as possible. He ruined high school for me. Everyone thought I ended up getting an abortion, and he never said anything about it.
Easton and I never even kissed, let alone had sex.
And even though it happened nearly a decade ago, I still held onto so much anger and resentment. I never wanted to see him again, which meant that wouldn’t happen since everyone sees everyone in Camden at some point during the day.
Joy.
“Knock knock,” London tapped her knuckles on the door, and Oliver stood behind her, holding up a bottle of champagne.
“Time to party, bitch!” Oliver bumped London out of the way with his hip as he sashayed into the room, flamboyant as ever with his see−through mesh top and short pink leather shorts. He never hid himself from anyone. He was gay and proud of it, and let the world know.
I was jealous of his ability to live life to the fullest. He was his own party, and he always got people to party with him.
It was a real gift.
“Hey, you made it!” I ran to them and engulfed them in a tight hug.
“They aren’t the only ones,” another voice came from the doorway, and when I lifted my head from Oliver and London’s shoulders, the biggest grin took over my face when I saw Ethan and Evan standing in the doorway. The Moore parents named all of their sons with the letter E for some reason. They said it was because it was easier to keep track of them, but it took me years as a kid to get their names right.
Sometimes, I still get them wrong.
Except for Easton. He
was the only brother I didn’t talk to. I didn’t have his number anymore, any pictures, nothing. He didn’t exist in my new life. I made sure of that.
“Oh my god! Ethan, Evan! What are you guys doing here?” I pushed Oliver and London out of the way, and Oliver scoffed, displeased that I tossed him aside to get to two of my other favorite people in the world. It was uncanny how much the Moore brothers looked alike. All of them had beautifully tanned skin and a dimple in their chin. Evan and Ethan shared brown hair, but their eyes were different. Evan had beautiful green eyes while Ethan had irises of chocolate.
It was unfair that a family of all sons were so handsome.
“London told us that you were moving back home, and we offered our assistance. We brought the truck, but I’m hoping we can get some food beforehand.” Ethan patted his stomach, and I could see under the tight fabric the abs that proved he could eat what he wanted, yet not gain an ounce, but being a firefighter, I supposed that helped him with his figure. Then there was Evan. He was the oldest of the Moore brothers. He was thirty, a detective, and the silent brooding type, but always went out of his way to be there for me when I needed it.
Like now.
“Yeah, Faneuil Hall is only a block away. We can feast,” I said, pulling Ethan in for a hug. I held on tighter and a bit longer than usual, but it had been months since I’d seen him, and I missed him. When I let go, I stood on my tiptoes and kissed Evan on the cheek, and he gave me a side hug. He wasn’t the biggest fan of showing affection, so a side hug was like striking gold in an abandoned mine. “You guys shouldn’t have. I don’t have much to pack, really. I’m afraid you have wasted your time.”
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