Alexander exhaled softly. “Wanna grab a drink or something?” he asked. I shook my head. “No, thanks. I think I’m okay.” He bit his lower lip and nodded. “Do you remember the evening you forgot something in my car? A pouch with a chain bracelet in it.” “Oh! Yeah. I remember.” “Yeah,” he said, forcing a smile. “After I dropped you off at your dorm, I saw the pouch. I turned back to give it to you, but I saw you talking to him—I mean Adrian. I didn’t move any further. I just waited. Then I saw you get into his car.” I swallowed hard. I already knew where this was going, and I, for sure, didn’t want to hear it aloud from Alexander’s lips. “I guess you know what happens next,” he scoffed. “I had to turn and leave after you came out of his car. Your face looked flushed. I just knew something had happened in there.” My heart slammed against my chest as I prayed that the ground would open and swallow me whole. “I became suspicious. Then came the double date with your sister. He was un
“Lie?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “Yes, Kim,” he shook his head. “And I know this because I’ve known about your relationship with him for a really long time.” I blinked. “What?” “I know about you and Adrian,” he said calmly again. “I’ve known for a really, really long time now, Kim.” My throat closed up. “What... what do you mean you knew?” He turned toward me; his eyes had gotten darker and intense. “Exactly what I said.” And in that moment, I swear the ground beneath me shifted. “Why do you keep lying, Kim?” he asked. “Why?” “But—” “Yes,” he exhaled softly. “You were honest about your relationship with Adrian, but that’s not all. You lied about how deep it is. You tell me you’ve not slept with him, and that you didn’t mean for it to happen—” “But all that—I mean... most of it is true,” I said, cutting him mid-sentence. “Kim,” he said calmly. “Would you please let me finish?” “Sure,” I nodded. “You also said Sloane didn’t know about it.” He shook his head
His eyes didn’t leave mine. He didn’t even speak, he just... looked. It was hard to breathe the way he kept staring at me, as if he was trying to pull the truth straight out of my bones. But I held my gaze steady, feigning confusion behind a mask that was starting to crack. “Tell you what?” I repeated, forcing a small, nervous laugh. “You’re being cryptic, Vaughn.” His jaw flexed, but he didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he just stared at me for a long, aching beat, his expression remaining unreadable. My heart thudded loud enough that I was sure he could hear it. “I’m not trying to accuse you of anything, Kim,” he said finally. “But I know there’s something you’re not saying. Something... that’s been weighing on you since Italy.” I looked down at my hands in my lap, fingers knotting themselves. “We’ve both had things weighing on us.” “But you’re still hiding,” he replied quietly. I swallowed hard. My voice was barely audible. “And if I am?” Alexander leaned back slightly, ex
It was Saturday morning, and the dorm room already smelled like caramel latte that Sloane had brought in for both of us. Soft breeze entered the room through the window that was slightly cracked open. After Italy, we weren’t in the mood to continue pretending we were carefree girls on a break because the first week had taken more from us than it gave. It stole the sparkle from our eyes. “I swear, this guy’s face is what sends me,” Sloane said through a laugh, tilting her laptop screen in my direction. “Look at how he reacts when his mom walks in!” I curled up closer beside her on the bed, watching the guy in the video try to hide his vape and pretend to be asleep. The mom burst in like a sitcom character, and I laughed. “I want her energy,” I murmured. “No one’s allowed to live with that much dramatic flair and still be functional.” “Kim,” Sloane said with a mock scolding tone, “you’ve literally just described Ramona.” My laugh fell short, and I blinked. Sloane noticed the shift
We arrived at the airport a few minutes too early. The airport buzzed around us, but it couldn’t distract me from the storm still brewing in my chest. I clutched my passport tightly as we followed the attendant toward the first-class boarding lane. Sloane walked ahead, her strides long and unbothered, but the way she gripped her phone told a different story. She lifted it to her ear. “Hello?” The voice on the other end was loud enough for me to catch the shrill start of Ramona’s fury. I didn’t even need to hear the words to know who it was. Sloane rolled her eyes. “Yes, we left.” There was a pause, then Ramona’s voice rose again. Sloane sighed. “Because, Ramona, we were done with the circus.” I stood beside her as the boarding assistant scanned our tickets. I caught the way Sloane’s lips curled from frustration. “We’re already at the gate,” Sloane said coolly. “So there’s no point in throwing a tantrum now.” Another voice spoke from the other end. It was something about disre
I had gone back to Ramona’s villa later that evening, and when I arrived, the villa was quiet. It wasn’t the kind of quiet that was peaceful; it was the kind that settled in your bones before you even heard a voice. I didn’t know what I expected walking back in here after a day like this, after what I’d done, after where I’d been, but I didn’t expect the air to feel this heavy. And I definitely didn’t expect her to be the first person I saw. “Back already?” Ramona’s voice broke the silence, floating from her place near the staircase like smoke. She was leaning casually against the banister, arms folded, head tilted slightly, like she’s been waiting. Her lips curled into a smirk. “Adrian’s villa is too boring for you—you had to rush back here?” I didn’t stop walking, but she followed behind me. “I thought you’d spend the night there again. Or has your little stunt already worn out its thrill?” she said with her voice dipped into mock concern. “You know, I saw the car drop you off.