Page 30 of One Little Lie
A full minute later, the entire trailer buzzes with laughter and conversation.
“At the very least, they’ll figure out if their friendship is salvageable. We’ll let them work out the rest on their own.”
“Yeah, if GG doesn’t step in first.” Preston’s chuckle starts a new round of laughter, and for the first time in months, I almost feel happy.
Chapter 10
Halton
Two and a quarter cup of flour. One teaspoon of salt. A dash of cinnamon. I measure each one exactly. It’s order in the chaos that’s my life. With my AirPods in place, I blast Imagine Dragons. I need to drown out the noise and breathe.
I know I’ll have to face my brothers soon. Colton will probably take another swing at me, though I can’t blame him.
Thwack.
What in the ever living fuck?Turning, I find GG wielding a wooden spoon like a weapon. This crazy old bat just smacked my ass, hard, with that wooden spoon, and she’s laughing about it.
There’s no mistaking where Lexi gets the mischievous twinkle in her eyes. GG has it in spades. The wrinkles around her mouth also show years of laughter, and it almost pulls me from my foul mood. Almost.
Taking out the AirPods, I glare at her. “What the hell was that for?” My ass is on fire, and I’d really like to rub away the sting, but I won’t give her that satisfaction.
“Ya can block out life for a little while, Fibby, but it always catches up with ya. So, talk.”
“I have nothing to say.”
Her eyes narrow drawing attention to the deep crow’s feet at the corners. “You might be more stubborn than all your brothers combined.”
I snort because she’s probably right.
“So, your brothers know a lot more about ya now, do they?”
I’m never getting rid of her, so I concede to her inquisition. “I suppose they do. I never meant to hurt anyone. I-I was young and stupid.”
“I know that, Fibby. And I think they do, too. But how long are you gonna punish yourself and Rylan?”
My gaze flies to her so fast I hear my neck crackle. “I’m not hurting her. I’m protecting her.”
“From what? Are you dangerous?”
“What? No, I’d never hurt her physically, but I’m not the boy I was back then, either. I don’t have the same capacity to love.”
“Hmm.”
The way she says it makes me want to bang my head against the wall because I know she’s withholding something.
“What, GG? It’s not like you to hold back, so just say whatever it is you came down here to say.” I try to focus on folding my wet ingredients into my flour mixture, but the motions that usually calm me appear to be useless right now.
“It’s funny, ya know? I just had the same exact conversation with Verity.”
My bowl goes crashing to the floor. The sound echoes off the stainless steel of the industrial-grade kitchen.
“Wh-What did you just say?”
“Ya heard me. Your gal’s got a name. It hit me watching you up on that stage. The moment you heard her voice. She pulled you from the dark, even if only briefly. She’s your fundamental truth, Fibby. You’re whole when she’s near.”
I can’t swallow past the lump in my throat, and sweat rolls down my spine, sending a chill throughout my entire body.
“Did she tell you that word?” My voice doesn’t sound like my own. I’m completely thrown off by this scary, tarot reading granny in front of me.
