Page 116 of One Little Lie
“She did, but is she worth fighting for?”
My gaze is stern as I find his on the screen.
“You know she is.” I glance out the window, feeling the familiar sensations of panic rising. “But what if she doesn’t want me to fight for her? What if this is karma coming to collect for my stupidity?”
“I don’t believe in that shit, Halton. You just have to decide which is worse. Fighting for her and risk being rejected, or living in this hell you’ve been in for the last two weeks? I gotta tell you, though. I liked you a lot better when you were with Rylan. You’re kind of a miserable bastard on your own.”
He’s not wrong. Even my assistant threatened to quit today if I didn’t ease up.
“There’s not much of a choice, is there?” I grumble.
“Not if you want to be happy.”
“I have some shit to do. Can you get Ash up to speed and check in with legal for me?”
“If you promise me something first.”
I don’t respond because his tone makes the hairs on my arm stand on end.
“Just promise me you’ll do what it takes to get the girl, and if you need help, you’ll call Dex. He’s itching to put his Prince Charming hat on again.”
His smirk tells me he isn’t joking about Dex, but the other part? I’m going to do everything I can.
“I don’t like to lose, East. You know that.”
“That’a boy, Halton! Go get your girl. I’ll talk to you soon. By the way, Colton will be back in Waverley-Cay tonight. I hear he’s on the warpath, so be prepared to defend yourself.”
He hangs up before I can ask any questions.
I chuck my pen across the desk. Just great. What the hell do I do now?
Removing my suit coat, I lay it over the back of my chair, then cross the room to the small easel I set up this morning. I pick up the charcoal, rolling it between my fingers to heat the oils within, but I can’t bring myself to touch the paper.
I’ve attempted this draft at least a hundred times, and I yield the same results every time. The bodies of my family are all there. The details of their clothing, their hair, their posture, all exactly how they appear in the photograph, but they’re all faceless. The few expressions I’ve attempted seem haunted when I’m finished, and I end up tossing the entire project in the trash.
“But my cards are showin’ that you’re the only one needing help.”
GG’s words from weeks ago rattle around in my head. Staring at the unfinished sketch, I have to wonder if my inability to finish it has more to do with my pain than I’m willing to acknowledge.
Why can’t I show happiness on the page? It’s haunting my dreams now, too. Faceless people all waiting for me to draw their forever.
“I can’t be your happiness, Hatty.”
Rylan’s words cut through my chest, and I step back. How the hell am I supposed to find my happiness if I can’t even draw it on my family?
Chapter 39
Rylan
“You know I love you, right?”
I stare at Colty over my coffee cup. I never know where he’s going, but when he just stares back, I put down my cup and nod.
“Yeah, Colty. I know.”
“Good. Then you know what I’m about to say comes from a place of love. But what in the actual fuck is going on with you and Halton? I thought you were depressed after promhole, but that is nothing compared to you now. Ry, you don’t look like you’ve slept in two weeks, and according to office gossip, Halton has been such a prick we’re on the verge of losing some key employees. You’re obviously both miserable, so what am I missing here?”
“It’s complicated. Can we just leave it at that?”
