Page 96 of One Little Lie
“Now, Halton.”
My spine stiffens as she turns her motherly glare my way.
“You have been in love with Rylan Maroney since she was six years old. Are you telling me that you hurt that girl on purpose because of something Daddy said?”
I narrow my eyes at Ash, but he shrugs. One of my brothers ratted me out.
“I don’t know what the two of you talked about that day, but let me tell you what he and I would talk about late at night. It started when you were around eleven. The two of you spent so much time together, and you thought no one noticed, but we did. We whispered to each other about how cute you were and dreamed about what you’d be like as you got older.
“As you grew, so did your relationship. It was a love we recognized. Your father worried about Colton’s feelings, but he knew it was a different kind of love for you. Our only concern back then was that the flame that burned between you and Rylan would grow so hot that you’d fizzle out before you grew into the adults you needed to be to appreciate what you had. But never once did he think you weren’t good enough for her. Never once did we doubt that she was your soul mate.
“So, the dark hole you’ve dug yourself over the last few years needs to be buried again. Find yourself, Halton. Find the amazing, talented, caring man I know you to be. Then fix this shit and get your girl.”
Ashton and I both sputter, and I swear he chuckles. Sylvie Westbrook does not say the word shit. Ever.
But it’s another person I love telling me to fix my shit. They make it sound so easy, and yet not a single one has mentioned how I should go about doing it.
“Now that I’ve said my piece, let’s get you guys back to the lodge. Sadie Sunshine has a big night planned for you, Ashton, and it begins at The Marinated Mushroom for pizza.”
He freezes, and his hands ball into fists.
“I know this is hard for you, Ash. But if you think I’m going to just sit by and watch you become a bitter, old hermit, you haven’t been paying attention. One night a week, Ash. For me. I know you want to climb into that dark hole Halton is trying to get out of, but I’ll be damned if I don’t pour some sunshine on the both of you every chance I get. I failed as your mother where Daddy was concerned. I won’t do it again.”
Ash and I try to dispute her claim, but she’s not having any of it. She’s made up her mind, and now she’s made it her mission to bring us both back from the dark.
As Sadie Sunshine comes barreling into Ashton’s open arms, I can see her plan working its way into the recesses of his heart. But I’m still floundering out at sea, unsure of how to bring my ship home.
Chapter 33
Halton
Home.
Such a strange word to think of the second you wake up, but that’s what I feel as my body gains consciousness.
I’m calm, is the second thing I notice before I even open my eyes, and when I do, eyes the color of rolling hills in Ireland stare up at me. A smile breaks, and I don’t try to tame it.
Rylan lays with her hands clasped under her chin on my chest. Staring at me.
“Are you watching me sleep?”
“We can’t have you being the only stalker in this rela … in our friendship.”
“We’ve been sleeping in the same bed for over three weeks now. I think it’s okay to call this a relationship,” I tell her, even as warning bells go off behind my eyes.
We haven’t hadthe talk. It either hasn’t come up, or we’re both avoiding it, but as she stares at me like this, I have to wonder why I’m so hesitant to put a name to it.
She nods slowly while biting her lip. She focuses her attention on a spot next to me, so I take a minute to watch her closely. Worrying her lip is new. I’ve always known when something was bothering her, but as she chews on her bottom lip that I want so badly to kiss, I glance away.
Maybe she isn’t ready to put a name to us either? I’m still fearful I’ll hurt her again, even unintentionally. Could she have the same concerns?
Deciding to gloss over this conversation for now, I go back to her original statement. “I never stalked you, sweetheart.”
“You lied when you told me you didn’t have Instagram.” Her voice is quiet and shaky. I’ve told so many lies at this point I can’t keep track, but even the asshole I am, I know if I want anything with her, I can’t do it anymore. I can’t lie to her face knowing the pain I’ve already caused.
“It wasn’t necessarily a lie,” I begin, and she furrows her brow, then attempts to pull away.
Grasping her upper arms, I pull her closer and hold her to me. “Halton doesn’t have Instagram, or Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Discord, or any of the other ones either.”
