Page 76 of 7 Dirty Lies

“I think I see where this is going.”He brushed a hand throughmyhair.

“I don’t think you do.I guess it was the typical spiral.That much you probably get.Lonely teenagers with money start drinking, then it’sdrugs.”

“Didyou?”

In my house?With my parents?“Hell no.I drank sometimes, but that was it.The difference between Ted and me was that his parents kept everything away from him.He didn’t wake up to ten naked adults passed out in hislivingroom.”

“So he didn’t know how bad it could get?”Coltguessed.

“Exactly.If he wasn’t drunk he was high, and about to get expelled from school.He’d already been arrested twice at this point and his parents only cared because of the reputation he was getting.I think that was the straw that broke the camel’s back—the day he realized they were never going to give a shit about him.I got a call in the middle of the night.”I shook my head as if it would shake the memories away.I would never forget the desperation in his voice.“He was losing it.Begging me to come help him.I had no idea what had happened, but my friend needed me, soIwent.”

“I think I’m beginning to understand yourfriendship.”

Relief swelled inside me.“He’s like a brother.I love him, Colt, but when I say there’s never been anything between us, Imeanit.”

He nodded, but didn’t say anything.That was just one of those things that was going to take time, but I finally believed Ted and Colt would find their footing with eachother.

“Ted had started hanging out with these assholes.They were the ones that kept his drug habit topped off, and that night, they were the ones who decided it would be a great idea to rob a string of houses in a rich neighborhood.When I got to Ted he was in the backyard of one of those houses, high as a kite, puke everywhere...he had so much in his system.So did everyone.There was no doubt in my mind the police would be there any minute so I grabbed Ted and took him back to my house.It was the one time I called my Uncle Oliver and asked for his help.He got Ted checked into a rehabilitation facility.But by then Ted had burned through all his money buying drugs.His parents were useless, so I paid for thefacility.”

“You’re a good friend to stand by him through all that.I can see why he adores you.”Colt’s eyes were soft, no hint of jealousy in sight—justadmiration.

And that made the next part a little harder to confess.“Everyone was arrested that night.Everyone except Ted.This is why that night is such a secret and why your mother has something to holdoverme.”

His whole face hardened into a fiery rage.“I’m going tostrangleher.”

“You don’t have to strangle her.She’s just protecting her family—a lot like someone elseIknow.”

He closed his eyes and pressed into my hand.“But my life isn’t her business.It hasn’t been since she handed her eighteen year old son a massive company and walked away.”He took on so much, so young.I’d never stop admiring him for that.“So what happenedtoTed?”

“Security camera footage was released from that night.Almost every house had one and in each case there was one person who was never identified.Someone wearing a hoodie.By some miracle Ted managed to keep his hood down enough and stay far away enough from all the cameras that there isn’t one clear shot of him.And since everyone was so drunk and high, no one could remember who was missing from the group that wasarrested.”

“Ted got off but his friendsdidn’t.”

“And while Hollywood can forgive a lot of shit, it doesn’t like traitors.There’s a blacklist and if you’re on it, you don’t work.The mystery man is onthatlist.”

“But if no one knew Ted was there that night, why is any of this aproblem?”

Because we live in the smallest world.“There have always been five names floating around as possibilities, but there were only four people who knew the truth.Ted, me, his girlfriend, and her father.She’d left earlier in the night so she wasn’t there when they decided to go on a spree.She felt guilty for introducing Ted to that group, and for what happened that night, so she never saidanything.”

“Except somehow my mother knowssomething?”

Stupid small worlds.“Phoenix’s father is the current governor of California and one of your mother’s goodfriends.”

Somehow Colt got stuck on the wrong information.“Ted dated Phoenix Rammage?”Hesatup.

I rolled my eyes.“I know she’s hot and all but could we stick to the story before I lose the will to tell it?”I should have known even Colt would have a crush on the supermodel.

“No, it’s not like that.”He shot me a look.“I mean, she’s obviously good looking.That’s a given.I was just surprised because I know Phoenix.It’s weird that a friend from my childhood dated your bestfriend.”

It was about to get weirder.“Well, they did.We’ll call Ted her young mistake, okay?Anyway, she had photos from earlier in the night.In several of them is the whole gang—including Phoenix and Ted.And Ted is wearing a hoodie.When your mother met with the governor last week to discuss her fears of a McKinley spy on Christina’s campaign, he gave her those photos, along with Ted’s credit card transactions from the hour before at the gas station down the street from where the burglaries took place.If that information got out it would end Ted’scareer.”

“Fuck.”Colt rolled onto his back, pulling me with him, tucking me into his side.“My mother is something else.She must really beworried.”

“I always knew there was a nasty side to Hollywood.”I kissed his chest.“And now I know there’s a nasty side to politicsaswell.”

“But this involvesme, Lily.She went behind my back and threatened you.”His arms tightened around me.“I am so angry right now and I don’t know what to dowithit.”

“Tell me you’ll never see Louisaagain.”

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