Page 76 of One Little Lie
When I see my reflection in the mirror, I almost laugh. Here I am being arrested on a tiny island in Rhode Island, and I’ve never looked happier.
I pee, wash my hands, and splash some water on my face. When I’m done, I still see the happiest version of myself staring back. That lasts right up until I enter the main room and see Hatty’s face.
“What? What’s the matter?”
“I called home. Colton will be here in a few hours.”
Chapter 25
Halton
Processing us isn’t what you see in the movies. Officer Jacobs takes our license and all our belongings, then escorts us into one of the cells. In the other cell, a man about my age lays on the bed staring at the ceiling without a care in the world.
“Blake? You have some company tonight,” Officer Jacobs says kindly. “This is Rylan and Halton. Jeffery will be here for the night. I’ll be back in the morning.”
“Sounds good,” Blake replies, then rolls over to face the wall without even glancing our way.
Rylan shakes beside me, and Officer Jacobs turns his kind eyes to her.
“Blake is a regular here, though he shouldn’t be. He isn’t dangerous in the slightest. Just a lost man searching for redemption.”
Blake grunts from the other cell but doesn’t offer any words. Rylan glances between him and Jacobs before nodding silently.
“Well, that’s it for me tonight. I have to make the rounds one more time. Jeffery will be here, and we’ll get you settled in the morning.”
The reality of our situation slaps me in the face as he walks away. I fucked Rylan in public, and we ended up in jail. And Colton is the only one free to bail us out. Given a choice between him and my mother, he was the only option.
“Well, this is going to force a conversation with Colt much sooner than I thought,” I grumble.
“Hatty. I’m so sorry.”
My head whips to hers. “What are you apologizing for?”
“I shouldn’t have forced this,” she says, motioning between us with her hands. “I-I just didn’t know how else to make you see. I …”
Sighing, I flop myself down onto the hard bunk and open my arms to her. “I’m not mad about that, sweetheart.” I can’t contain the smile that spreads across my face. “Though, next time, maybe wait to show the seductress side of yourself until we’re in the privacy of four walls.”
Rylan buries her face in her hands, but I’m not having it. Reaching up, I tug her hands free until she lands in my lap.
“I am confused, though. I can’t deny that. I have to talk to Colt, too. I should have done that before any fornicating happened.” I grin even through the seriousness of my words. “Without talking to Colt first, I feel as though I betrayed my brother. You know how hard that is for me to justify.”
“But you didn’t, Hatty. I promise you didn’t.”
“All this time wasted because he called dibs on you.”
“Jesus, Hatty. He didn’t call dibs on me. He’s my best friend, that’s all he’s ever wanted to be, and all I’ve ever seen him as. My heart has been yours since you hid in the hallway with me when I was six years old.”
“But my father died thinking—”
“Your father died because he had a genetic heart condition. End of story.”
“H-He thought I wasn’t good enough for you.”
A sound of shock escapes her throat. “He said that to you?”
“No, he didn’t have to. I cut him off before he could, but he was going to.”
“That doesn’t sound like your dad at all, Hatty. He would never say something like that to any of you.”
