Page 3 of Liars

“Shit, Kay,” he whispered, enveloping me in a careful hug, mindful of the bandages. “I’m so fucking sorry. I would have been here sooner, but they wouldn’t let me in.”

I buried my face into the warm spot under his neck, breathing in his familiar woodsy and citrus scent—the cologne I’d bought him for Christmas three years ago. He still wore it every day despite having a collection in his room.

Being in Carson’s arms grounded me, but it didn’t fill the gaping hole in my chest. No one could.

“How long has it been?” I asked.

His chest vibrated under my face as he answered. “Two days.”

“Two days,” I echoed, my eyes widening. How could it have been so long when it felt like the incident had happened mere hours ago?

“They had to sedate you when you first arrived. You wouldn’t stop screaming, and then the surgery…”

Panic climbed up my chest, a clammy cold spreading over my skin. “They’re gone,” I muttered flatly into the front of his hoodie, my voice hollow as my tears soaked the gray fabric.

“I know, fuck. I know.” He stroked my hair gently, then climbed into the bed with me. “We’ll get through this together. I promise.”

“I’m alone.” The truth of my situation hit me, stealing my breath. I had only one relative who lived close by, my aunt.

Carson squeezed me gently. “You’ll never be alone. Never.”

I didn’t share his faith. Pulling away slightly, I sucked in a shaky breath. “Why did I survive and they didn’t? Why?”

His eyes glistened as he shook his head. “It’s not fair. It’s not fair at all. But I’m glad you’re here, Kay.”

I said nothing, just held on to one of the only steady people left in my life.

Carson stayed with me, doing his best to distract me and keep the tears at bay, but grief had a way of creeping in, silent and ruthless. One minute, we’d be scrolling through TikTok or watching reruns ofGilmore Girls, and the next, my eyes would be wet, tears silently streaming down my cheeks.

During my last unexpected crying session, a staff member walked in with a tray of food. She quietly set it down and tiptoed out as Carson, for the dozenth time, consoled me as best he could. My appetite still hadn’t returned, so the food remained untouched despite his attempts to coax me into eating.

I was blowing my nose into a tissue when a head popped into the room.

“Kaylor?” someone called in a soft voice.

“Kenny?” I murmured, straightening up and pulling away from Carson to see my other best friend. The trio was together again.

“Holy shit. You were shot.” I could always count on Kenny to blurt out the first thing that popped into her head.

Carson rolled his eyes as our friend hurried across the room, tears welling in her warm brown eyes, the gold rim around the edges brightening.

Since Carson was on my uninjured side, Kenny went in to hug me but second-guessed her decision when she caught sight of my bandaged shoulder. She leaned in and kissed my cheek instead, her long honey-colored hair grazing my face.

Kenny, Carson, and I had basically grown up together. Our houses were in the same cul-de-sac, and we were known as the Shady Court Trio at Elmwood Academy. As with any high school, rumors circulated, most of them baseless. The currentlie making the rounds was that we were in an MFF relationship. Absurd. But the gossip queens at the academy loved to talk.

“I came as soon as our plane touched the ground.” Kenny’s family had flown to Lake Tahoe for their annual ski trip over winter break.

Our fingers laced together. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Are you kidding me? My best friend is in the hospital. Not even downtown traffic could keep me away. My parents wanted to come in, but I told them to go home with the promise of calling them later.” Mindy and Gabe Grey had been more than neighbors to my parents—they’d been friends. I imagined they were grieving too, but Kenny knew me well enough to know I wasn’t ready for visitors.

“Thanks. I’m just not up for seeing anyone. Excluding current company, of course.”

Kenny and Carson shared a look over the bed, trying—and failing—to be inconspicuous. I caught it.

“Obviously,” Kenny said, squeezing my hand.

“She’s not eating,” Carson told Kenny, talking about me as if I weren’t sitting right there.

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