Page 77 of Truth or Dare

My stomach twisted. “We’re...we’re back together.”

The color drained from her face as she stumbled back, her mouth falling open in disbelief. “Bullshit! What about Hudson?”

I opened my mouth, but no words came. There was nothing I could say to make this right. “I... I’m sorry.”

Her bottom lip quivered as she gripped the strap of her backpack. “What about him? You guys were happy.”

“I...we broke up,” I lied, the words like sandpaper against my throat.

Her eyes narrowed, anger and hurt warring across her face. “You knew how I felt about Evan, Presley. I was in love with him. We were just starting something, and now you’re back with him?”

“No, I didn’t know,” I protested, my voice breaking. I wanted to reach out, to hold onto something that could ground me, but she pushed me away.

“Don’t lie to me.” She took a step back, her voice dripping with bitterness. “You have everything. And you knew I loved him.”

Her words hit me like a slap, and I stared as she slung her backpack over her shoulder, her eyes shimmering with betrayal.

“Reagan, please,” I whispered, my own voice cracking. “It’s not what you think?—”

But she was already turning her back to me, striding toward the door.

“Goodbye, Presley. Have a great lunch with Evan,” she tossed over her shoulder, the hurt in her voice stinging sharper than anything he could have said.

CHAPTER 23

Hudson

Istared at my phone, the screen still lit up with Presley’s last message. The words “we need to talk” seemed to hang there, taunting me. Secrets? What could she mean? I thought I’d told her everything since we’d gotten back together, every bit of the mess that had happened during our time apart.

Frustration bubbled in my chest. Tomorrow was Friday, and with my parents heading out of town for the weekend, I’d been looking forward to having her over, just the two of us. I’d planned it all out. But now, this message—it was like a ticking time bomb.

I typed a quick reply.

Are you dropping by?

The response was almost immediate.

Maybe tonight, or I’ll call you.

I frowned,feeling the tightness in my gut intensify.

What is it, Pres?

It’s better we talk in person.

When?

I waited,staring at the screen, willing it to light up with her response. But nothing. Minutes stretched into an hour, and my fingers itched to send another text, to demand answers, but something told me it wouldn’t help.

I tossed the phone aside, running a hand through my hair, and tried to ignore the sinking feeling that maybe things were slipping out of my control.

The airin Presley’s Jeep was thick, warmed by the blasting heater, but the tension between us made it hard to breathe. I slid into the passenger seat, barely glancing at her before I noticed her red-rimmed eyes. She’d been crying, and Presley wasn’t one to break down easily. A knot of worry twisted in my gut.

I leaned in to kiss her, but she jerked back, her jaw tight.

“What’s going on?” I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended.

Her gaze dropped to her lap. “Why didn’t you tell me you were arrested for assault?”

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