Page 61 of One Little Lie
“Well, I haven’t gotten it yet. All he could do was put in a good word. The rest is up to me.”
“You’ll get it.” He’s so adamant, I sit back to take him in.
“How are you so sure?”
He studies me, love and wonder in his eyes. “Because you’re you, princess. I’ve always believed in you. You’re the best.”
His honesty is too much. This back and forth is killing me.
“Give me a word, Hatty?”
His eyes go wide and worried. He knows where I’m going with this. He relaxes slightly when he glances around and thinks he’ll be safe, but he doesn’t know what Ari slipped me before we left.
We’re sitting facing each other with less than three feet between us. His gaze never leaves mine, and the yearning that passes between us makes my heart hurt.
“Letch,” he finally mutters.
Leaning to my left, I drag my bag closer and pull out my small Nikon, never once breaking eye contact with this frustrating man in front of me.
After removing the lens cap, I lower my gaze to the camera to check the settings, then bring it to my eye. With his face in the finder, I snap pictures. The click, click, click of the shutter going off is like birds taking flight.
“What are you doing?” Hatty’s husky voice assaults my body, and my nipples peak beneath the thin fabric of my tank top.
“Letch,” I whisper. Too afraid to lower the camera, I watch his expression darken through the lens. “A strong desire for something.” I swallow a painful pit in my throat. “Or someone.”
Hatty’s knuckles turn white on his knees, and I lower the lens to catch the reaction.
“Friends,” he chants under his breath, but whether he’s convincing himself or me, I’m not sure. His body is so tense, I’m surprised he isn’t shaking from the effort.
“Rylan,” he groans, and I know I’m about to lose this round, so I reach into my bag again and pull out the small tin Ari had given me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Hatty’s hands tremble, but I reach into the bag again anyway and pull out the sketch pad. Leaning forward on my knees, I place the pad of paper and tin full of charcoal in his lap.
“Your turn, Hatty. Draw for me,” I whisper, just inches from his mouth.
His gaze follows the movement of my teeth sinking into my bottom lip from nerves. It’s the final straw for him as he sucks in a harsh breath. Then another. And another.
Nostrils flaring, his voice is gruff. “I don’t draw anymore, princess.”
“I know.”
He staggers back, using his hands to hold him up, and putting space between us. Shock is the only description for his expression.
“It’s your punishment, but we’re starting over, Hatty. No more punishments. No more rules. No more lies. Draw. For me. Please.”
Chapter 21
Halton
“Draw. For me. Please.”
“How?” My words sound like they’re catching on sandpaper as they escape my lips, and I can’t finish my sentence.
Rylan shrugs impishly. “GG’s truth wine.”
“Fuck.” Dropping my head, I let the air hiss through my teeth.
“You want to be friends, right?”
