Page 19 of On One Condition

The room spins around me. Our private, meaningful moment, now public knowledge.

“What are you talking about? He didn’t use me. He—”

“He’s not meeting you later like you two planned either.” No, no, no. “I had his phone. I read his texts. You’re not the only one, if that helps.” I want to cover my ears and stop the noise. “In fact, he’s been seeing a couple other girls this summer and is out with one of them right now. He’s—”

Liar.

“No, he hasn’t,” I whisper, my head shaking and my mind not believing.

“He has. He is. He’s down by the willow tree right now.” I wince. “Oh no, he didn’t con you into thinking that was your special spot too, did he?” His sigh is heavy as he shakes his head, disappointment all over his face.

Tears blur my vision as I stare at a man I’ve never met but truly hate. “I don’t believe you. I need to talk to him. There has to be an explanation.”

“Does a teenage boy really need one other than hormones?”

I stare, blinking at this man who just turned my world upside down. All I can think of is Ledger’s easygoing, flirty nature. The way he fit in with everyone here. All the girls wanted him. It was even a running joke between us. Am I the fool here? For believing him? I mean, it would be so easy for him to be with one of them during the hours I worked here at the farm.

Gran squeezes my hand, and it breaks the pieces of me I’m trying to hold together.

He’s wrong.

He has to be.

Cedar Falls is a small town. Gossip is the norm here. Rumors are the currency teenagers trade. I would have known. I would have heard about it.

“We’re leaving Cedar Falls tonight. I think it’s the best course of action after . . . everything. I’m sorry. I never taught my son to treat girls this way.”

“I think you need to leave now,” Pop says, opening the door.

“I’ve blocked your number from his phone and erased your information from his contacts, so he can’t hurt you again. I think it’s best for everyone, all around. A clean break. I’d hate for this to get . . . messy, if you know what I mean.” Maxton gives Pop a warning look that I don’t understand.

“You’re lying. You have to be,” I shout as tears I didn’t realize I was crying hit my lips.

“I’m sorry. Truly I am.”

“No. This isn’t—he wouldn’t—”

“I thought he was better than that too.” He bows his head briefly.

A sob lodges in my throat. “Gran.” I look over at her, and she squeezes my hand. “He wouldn’t . . .”

“Come on, Ash.” When her arm goes around my shoulder, I sag into her. “Let’s go to your room.”

I struggle, wanting to hear the rest of what is being said, needing to, but Pop pushes Maxton out the front door and shuts it behind them.

More is said. More arguing. More . . . I don’t know what.

All I know is that when I ran out the front door against Gran and Pop’s wishes later that night and went to the willow tree as we’d planned, Ledger wasn’t there.

“Whew. That’s rough. When I’m wrong, I admit it and yes, I was wrong about the man. Shit. I’m usually good at reading people too. Clearly, he is a dick of epic proportions,” Nita says as she pours more wine in our cups.

Her words make me smile. “Honestly, I don’t know what to think.” I shrug, thinking of the look Ledger gave me after Hank interrupted us. The unspoken epiphany it looked like he had. “For the longest time, I believed that Ledger had used me. That he took pride in taking my virginity before moving on. I was humiliated and heartbroken and hated Ledger as much as I loved him.”

“I sense a but coming here.”

I nod. “But I knew Ledger. Like, you don’t spend three years getting to know somebody and be wrong like that.”

“Do you think his dad was lying to you about it?”