“No!” She shakes her head and tears start to well in her eyes. “I love him, Cole.”
“Then why did you break up with him?” I’ve always known how Deke felt about Becky but how she feels about him …?
“Maybe he broke up with me,” she offers.
I laugh. “I know him.”
She looks around the closet as if searching for an answer. “Bruce won’t matter. He’ll blame me. I’m in too deep. Too many lies. And Austin …”
My jaw clenches. “I think she deserves to know.”
“No!”
“So you want to continue to lie to her too?”
“What is going on between me and my best friend is not a lie. I’ve never once fabricated a story to her, but Deke I have.”
“It’s still a secret,” I offer.
“It was a deal!” she snaps. “And she won’t forgive you.”
She would. I’m not saying it wouldn’t take time, but I’ve done far worse to her than lie. “You make it sound like we had a contract written in blood.” Which, in a way, I guess it was. Both of us had blood on our hands.
Her eyes narrow on me. “You’re right. It was more like an understanding. You took the fall for me, making me owe you. And then, one day, you came to collect.”
Four months ago
I sit in my father’s darkly lit game room on the chaise lounge. Deke, Bennett, and Shane are all over by the pool table. Each with a girl under their arm. Kellan sits over on the couch watching the basketball game playing on the big screen, but there’s no sound. Instead, “Devilish” by Chase Atlantic plays through the speakers.
Looking down at my phone, I go to my contacts. I sent Austin a text, giving her my address, but I did it from Deke’s phone instead of mine. I wanted to remind her she was outnumbered. And alone.
Celeste is forcing my hand. Not that I didn’t wanna play with the feisty brunette with striking green eyes, but I wanted to do it my way. Now I need reinforcements. Of the female kind. I don’t have any friends who are girls. Hell, I barely have any guy friends. If they’re not a shark, I don’t pay them any mind. And even the women I fuck, I stay clear of. No need for conversation afterward.
Scrolling through the contacts on my phone, I go to the one name I know who owes me a favor. I just didn’t think I’d get to cash in this soon.
Becky Holt—the girl that my best friend Deke is in love with—just happens to owe me a lot. We never speak. Never hang out. Not anymore. We keep our distance and for a good reason. One of the last times I saw her, she had tears running down her face, smearing her flawless makeup. Her shirt was torn, and she had blood on her hands. I told her to run. And she did just that.
I quickly send her a text, knowing she’s here tonight. I saw her downstairs earlier. And that’s why Deke has decided to fuck Sara Logan tonight—to try and make Becky jealous.
Me: Ready?
It shows read immediately. I see the three dots bounce around and then disappear. My smile widens.
They bounce around again before my phone vibrates in my hands.
B: ?
Me: A friend of mine is coming tonight. You would make a great friend for her too.
Her response is immediately.
B: You don’t have any girls who are friends.
Touché.
Me: Her name is Austin. Brunette. Green eyes. Probably wearing something red. Text me when she gets here.
B: And why do you want to know that?
