And I swear, he tries not to smile. I think he’d like nothing more than to tackle her on the seat and make out with her as much as Ryke is doing to Melissa. “Rose, darling,” he whispers. “Let’s not jump to conclusions because of personal bias. I don’t know Sebastian like you do.”
“Exactly,” she says as though she won.
He ignores that and nods back to Lily. I think he may be smarter than Rose. If I told her that, she’d probably rip out my lungs.
“Lily, did you take Adderall?” Connor asks again.
She shakes her head quickly. “Nonono,” she slurs together. “I studied, Connor. The normal, natural way like you taught me.”
“And Sebastian clearly helped,” Rose adds.
Connor shakes his head. “No…something’s not right.”
Rose pokes his arm. “You can’t admit that you’re wrong. That’s the problem.”
“I know when I’m wrong, Rose, and I don’t think I am here.”
“How many times have you even talked to Sebastian?”
“A couple,” Connor says. “He runs out the door the minute I walk in, and he barely looks me in the eye. Only liars and cheaters can’t meet my gaze.”
Lily sinks deeper into her seat.
“Lily didn’t cheat,” Rose snaps back, her glare darkening.
I chime in, afraid that we’ve suddenly fissured their relationship, “Lily isn’t as stupid as you think. Is that really so hard to believe?”
“Yes,” Connor says. “I spent months tutoring Lily, and she never did better than a C.”
“Maybe I’m just good at Statistics,” Lily shrugs.
“You bombed your first two exams.”
Rose raises her hand to cut in like we’re in class. “Or maybe,” she says, slinging her cold voice back at Connor, “Sebastian is just a better tutor than you.”
Connor cocks his head at her like she’s being foolish. “No, that can’t be it.”
She lets out an exasperated growl. “You’re impossible.”
“You love me,” he says matter-of-factly.
She gapes. “I never said such a stupid thing.” That’s her go-to response. But she has turned bright pink.
Connor raises his brows at her and then pins his attention back on Lily. “Did you cheat?”
Oh shit.
Instead of interrupting, Rose waits for Lily to answer this time. Lily needs to stay strong here. Even if we’re inadvertently siding with Sebastian rather than Connor, those tests are important for her future at Princeton. We spent years lying to people about our addictions. We’re fucking good at it, but I remember all the times where I had to calm her down, to placate her anxiety about fibbing in front of Rose and her parents. Lying eats her up inside more than it does me.
Lily clutches my hand tightly, and with a steady voice, she says, “I’m being honest, Connor. No cheating, no drugs, no nothing.” She nods to herself. “Things have changed. I’m just more focused now.” Her tone is sincere, something hard to reject.
I put my arm around her shoulder and watch Connor go quiet. But he doesn’t look a hundred percent satisfied. I’d say he’s at least forty percent, which is good enough for now.
Before he says something more, Rose smacks Connor on the arm, and the two begin arguing in French. I can’t make out any of it, but I’m sure they’re flinging curse words.
Lily cringes, watching Rose’s eyes puncture holes into Connor, her words sounding nasty. And he’s quick to retort back. Lil leans into my side and whispers, “I don’t like lying to her.”
I squeeze her arm. “We’ll make it right.” Eventually.
