Tristan hums. “That’s not what I saw last night.”
My stomach drops. “What?”
I hear some taps on his end. “Check your text messages.”
I pull the phone away from my ear and find a text from this same number.
With a picture of me kissing Lily last night.
“Where did you get this?” I hiss, putting the phone back up to my ear. “Are you here in Brookhaven?”
“Me? In Brookhaven? Of course not. But I have my sources.”
My brain filters through the possibilities. Someone at the book club? Someone in their home, watching through the windows? The options are endless.
Stupid, Ryder. You should have known better.
“I have a proposition for you,” he continues. “Because I’m sure you’re aware of her family’s reaction to our relationship. You can imagine how they’ll feel if they find out about the two of you, especially when you were supposed to be protecting her.” He clicks his tongue. “And of all people, Peter’s best friend.”
I stay quiet. I wish he weren’t right about that, but I know he is. It’s why I held back from kissing her until I couldn’t resist anymore.
“Leave her,” Tristan says. “Just disappear. You don’t even have to come up with a reason, but leave her alone.”
“What? Why?”
He pauses. “It’s what she deserves.” The words come out with venom and spite.
“Deserves?” I repeat. “Hang on. We’re talking about a girl who was barely eighteen, who you manipulated for the sake of getting back at her brother? And nowyouthink she deserves to be, what, heartbroken?”
“Do you know what she’s put me through?” His voice is strained and tight. “I’ve lost everything. No one wants to hire me. She needs to pay.”
“Youdid that to yourself,” I say sharply. “Lily did nothing wrong.”
“See it how you want. I don’t care. But there’s my offer. Leave her, and I’ll keep this picture to myself. But if you choose to stay, I’ll send this to her whole family.”
My heart pounds in my chest. Is he telling the truth? He’s got nothing to lose. Why wouldn’t he send it?
“I’ll give you fifteen minutes to decide.”
“How are you going to know what I decide?”
He hangs up without answering my question. I stare at the phone in my hands, my chest tight. It feels like an impossible choice.
Either I prevent her from facing the potential anger of her brothers and father. But that would mean leaving her completely alone.
Again.
Or I can stay with her and we can face this situation together. Maybe her family would understand. Maybe Peter would understand.
No. He would never.
Okay, so if they wouldn’t understand, where would that leave us?
Are we doomed to be apart no matter what I choose?
At least if I leave, she won’t be in trouble with her family.The consequences will only be mine to bear. Except for the fact that I’d be breaking her heart—again. Lily has already had her heart shattered once by Tristan, even if he didn’t really love her. But me… I have genuine feelings for her. Is it love? I’ve never truly been in love before, so I have nothing to compare these feelings to.
But if this isn’t love, then I don’t know what is.
