Page 55 of Darkest Obsession

“Nothing happened,” I tell her. “I swear. We were just…”

“Doing ethics homework,” Thomas blurts out.

Does he seriously think Sylvia is going to buy that? I was obviously straddling him. My cheeks burn as Sylvia’s face takes on seventy different expressions of rage in an exceedingly short space of time.

“Your hand was basically on her ass!”

“Sylvia, I’m sorry,” I tell her, because apologizing seems like the right thing to do and honestly, I’m sorry for real. Sylvia probably doesn’t want to see that. I’m not even sure that she doesn’t have a major crush on Thomas.

“Sorry for what? Did you two have sex?”

“Sylvia,” Thomas interjects. “Stop. I was just visiting Clover. That’s all. We’re friends.”

“I don’t have a problem with you being friends,” Sylvia snaps. “But this is all happening in some weird secret way. I didn’t even know you two talked. It’s like… oh my God how is this happening?”

“I don’t report to you,” Thomas answers coldly. I can tell he’s hurting Sylvia’s feelings and I want to jump in and defend her, but she gets to her self-defense first.

“Friends don’t lie to each other,” she says.

It’s my turn to give Sylvia a look. Oh really, Sylvia? She has her secrets and I never held them against her.

“Then where were you the other night?”

“Excuse me?”

“You lied. You said you were in your room but–

“That’s different!” Sylvia shrills.

“No it’s not. Listen, Syl. I love you, but it’s the same. Thomas and I were just… hanging out. I swear. It’s not some huge secret.”

“There’s nothing going on,” Thomas says, very convincingly. “I promise.”

Sylvia’s mouth seals itself shut. Her tongue runs along her lower teeth like she’s doing everything in her power to hold her tongue.

“Hold on,” Thomas says. “I know that face. You’re hiding something.”

“I’m not.”

Thomas and I exchange glances. Has he told her about the blackmail? He shakes his head gently when our eyes catch. I understand him.

“You are,” Thomas says. “Spill and I’ll tell you everything about me and Clover.”

“You and who?” I mutter under my breath. Thomas doesn’t hear me but our eyes catch. He nods. He’s going to do the talking.

“I can’t tell you,” Sylvia says, finally dropping her gaze and looking far less stubborn than defeated. “I want to, but I can’t.”

“What’s stopping you?” I ask her. I genuinely mean it. At first she looked defiant, but now she just looks downright scared and that makes me nervous as hell.

“If anyone finds out… this could ruin my life.”

“Are you gay?” Thomas says. “Because that might not be okay in America, but we’re fine with it in England.”

I elbow Thomas hard in the side and he groans.

“Dumb ass,” I grumble. Sylvia cracks a half-smile, but it disappears as soon as it comes.

“I don’t want to lie to you,” She says. “Please. I’m just not ready.”