Page 64 of One Little Lie
Ashton: Any updates?
Jesus. I’d almost forgotten why we were even here.
Halton: No. The storm just passed. We’ll be able to head into town and start exploring tomorrow.
Ashton: Okay. Thanks, Halton. For everything.
Halton: It’s what we do, right?
Preston: Yes. We fix shit. Get it done. ALL of it.
Tucking my phone into my back pocket, I stare at the sky. What the hell am I supposed to do? Find my happy? Do they have any idea what that means or what it will do to Colton if I do?
Jesus. If the car hadn’t showed up, I would have slept with her. Again. Tugging on the ends of my hair, I blow out a loud breath. There is no happy for me in this situation, so I steel my resolve and stomp back toward Rylan. I have to apologize and hope she doesn’t try to knee me in the nuts.
The rain has let up, so as I hop back onto the platform, I roll up the heavy tarp and release the mesh net meant to keep bugs out. At least this way, we’ll get some air into the space.
Rylan is sitting cross legged against the back wall with her phone propped up on her knees. I assume she’s reading again, and I wonder if I’ve been gone longer than I thought.
Tying off the other side of the tarp, I turn to find Rylan watching me. A mix of want and apprehension on her face.
“Are you okay?” she asks, dropping her phone to her side.
“Yeah. Um, listen. I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry? For what?” she asks, surprise and a hint of annoyance flickering across her face.
I can’t make eye contact, so my eyes dart around the small space. “Well, we’re … ah, we’re friends. I shouldn’t have kissed you or, well, anything.”
“Are you?”
Now I’m forced to look at her. “Am I what?”
“Are you sorry? Or do you just think you shouldn’t have kissed me?”
“Both. It’s the same thing, isn’t it?” I have to ball my fists to keep my fingers from fidgeting.
“No. It’s not.”
My leg bounces nervously on my toes as she stands and crosses the room. She notices but walks to stand right in front of me, anyway.
“Did you want to kiss me, Hatty?”
“I shouldn’t have.”
“That’s not what I asked. Did you want to kiss me?”
With her so close, I know I can’t lie, so I avoid. “I got carried away.”
Narrowing her eyes, Rylan takes a step closer. “This new friendship, Hatty? That you wanted, by the way, won’t work if you keep lying to me. Or to yourself. Figure out your shit.”
I nearly gasp as she says the same thing Preston and Ash just scolded me for. Thankfully, I hold it in until she crosses the room and rips open the mesh netting.
“Where are you going?”
“Out.” Her words are biting, and my heart sinks. I seem incapable of not hurting her.
Chapter 22
