That’s not at all embarrassing.I press my hand to my warm cheek.
Tom continues, “When they graduated, Verity pulled the rug out from under Sara.She’d been working against her behind her back the whole time.Anything that Verity did wrong, she blamed on Sara until everyone thought Sara was the bad guy.”
I hear a sharp intake of breath.I’m numb to this story now.
“She tried to destroy Sara, but Sara’s a good person and that’s something Verity never could master.She can pretend to be nice but it always feels fake.Verity acts like she’s all that, but she’s just trash.She doesn’t deserve happiness.Honestly, when I found out you were friends, I was worried that she was doing the same thing to you that she did to Sara.”
“My father would have crushed her.So why would you set her up with your best friend?”
“To go to the benefit with you.I wish I had a better answer for you, but it boils down to that.Wyatt needed a date because his usual date was busy that night.I didn’t think about Sara and how it might make her feel.”
My chest aches, but that’s Tom.
“You didn’t care that she hurt your sister?”
“I took care of Verity years ago.”Tom chuckles lightly.“I picked apart Verity’s life after she hurt Sara.She took Sara’s friends away, so I turned hers against her.It wasn’t hard to do.They knew what she did to Sara.They might have believed what Verity said about Sara, but when you start a whisper campaign about someone, everyone around you wonders what you’re saying about them behind their backs.”
“You told them?”
“These girls came panting after me and my friends at our house.I knew these girls.I went after them one by one until I had them convinced Verity was out to get them next.I made sure anyone who turned their back on Sara did the same to Verity.Not that she cared.Verity isn’t built to actually care about other people.”
I never knew Tom did that.I put my hand over my heart.Verity didn’t maintain friendships after high school.I just figured she was done with them too.
Tom’s tone turns soft.“I’m sorry she was your only friend.”
Natasha makes a dismissive noise.“I grew up surrounded by snakes.I know one when I meet them.Verity was never a friend.She was an acquaintance that my father tolerated.Probably because he knew she was after power.”
“What else do you want to know?”Tom’s tone is soft.
“What happened with Wyatt?”
“Fuck, that one’s harder.”
“Tell me.”
“Wyatt and I are best friends.We grew up together.My parents basically adopted my friends.They were always at my house.They didn’t have anywhere else to go.”Tom releases a breath.“Wyatt found out about his real dad.A guy that turned out to be the worst kind of con artist.We didn’t know it back then though.One night Wyatt tells me he’s sneaking off to be with his real dad.”
Tom stops talking and I’m left hanging, waiting for his next words.My eyes close, trying to focus.
“What happened, Tom?”Natasha’s tone is gentle, like she can see how much pain Tom is in.
I put my hand over my mouth to stop from crying.My father is the hero of that story and I know how it ends.
“I told my father about the meeting.About what we knew.That Wyatt was getting his real father.”He curses softly.
A weight presses against me and a hand falls over mine as my eyes pop open.Finn’s devilish green eyes look into mine and I relax against his hand.When he opens his mouth, I cover it with my other hand.
“It’s my fault, but I blamed it on Wyatt.”There’s anguish in Tom’s voice.
Finn tips his head toward the door but I shake my head.He rests his forehead against mine and curls his hand around my hip.His warmth seeps into me.
“I told my dad what Wyatt had said.I didn’t want to lose my friend, and I knew Wyatt was going to run away with his father who was under investigation.”Tom drags in a breath and the volume of his voice fluctuates like he’s pacing.“I didn’t want to lose my friend.My dad took me with him because Mom and Sara were away for the night.I can’t even remember where.We got to the docks and found Wyatt and his father.”
“That’s the night your father died?”Natasha sounds comforting.
“Who knows what Wyatt’s father planned, but most likely he would have ransomed Wyatt back to his mother.Maybe even sent him back piece by piece.The guy was an asshole.My father had called the police, but we got there first.My dad tried to reason with Wyatt’s, but they got in a fight and then there was so much blood.”
He lets out a growl of frustration.“Wyatt’s dad turned on us, but the sirens were getting closer.We ran together.His dad didn’t have time to come after us and risk being arrested, so he fled.”
