Page 151 of Vows We Never Made
Ouch. Too defensive.
She looks at me with a frown wilting in her blue eyes.
“You’re sure, huh? Why would that be?”
Shit, shit, shit.
I look away, pretending to smell a flower—I don’t even know what it is—way too intently.
My face is burning so hot it makes me sneeze.
“Nothing! No reason. I just… I don’t think he’ll continue the same pattern he had when he was eighteen, y’know? That was a long time ago.”
“You’re giving him a lot of credit.” Margot leans in, filling my field of vision. “What is it really, Hattie? Oh no. Is this because you guys are sleeping together? Pleaaase don’t let him get in your head!”
“Absolutely not,” I lie.
She hesitates.
“You seem kinda worked up about him today. Is there another reason?” Margot chews her lip. “Look, I know I said all that, but you’re a special case, you know? Hardly just another fling. He’s not out for a quickie or to break your heart.”
“Nice save.” I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
“I mean it! Fake engaged or not, he never would’ve hooked up with you if he thought you had some terrible flaw he couldn’t deal with.”
“Wow, thanks. You’re making me feel so much better.”
“Well, my brother is a ginormous asshole player. I don’t want you getting hurt, and that means no getting your hopes up,” she says gently. “But he’s notthatmuch of an idiot to leave my bestie in shambles.I hope.”
“Okay, never mind. Can we drop it?”
“Not a chance. I’d love to know what has you fixated on Ethan’s dating life.” She gives me a long look until I wince. I know she can see right through me because her lips curl into a smile. “You’re sitting on something juicy. What’s the big secret?”
“Nothing!”
“Don’t lie to me, Hattie. Remember how long we’ve been friends? I know when you’re holding out.”
I resist the urge to tell her she’d have never known about us at all if I hadn’t come clean.
The nightmare Ethan shared about Taylor Rollins—he wouldn’t want me to tell Margot in a billion years.
It’s too big. Too devastating. Too unspeakable.
And it also could have broad ramifications for the family if it ever came out.
God, the media alone would crucify him, maximizing misery for every Blackthorn.
If Ethan wanted Margot to know, obviously he would have told her by now. Or at least askedmeto tell her.
He didn’t ask me to keep it a secret, but I’m sure that’s implied.
“Spill,” Margot says, fluttering her eyelashes.
“Are you for real? That might work on a date, but it doesn’t work on me,” I say, mentally fumbling for what I can tell her.
Basically nothing.
Her lip juts out in a pout. “I thought we were besties.”
