Sweet Little Lies (Dirty Little Lies Duet 2)

“Hey, morning. Thought you were going to sleep the day away.” My eyes lock on Evan dressed in a pair of sweats and a school football shirt. I scan the room. Why? How?

“What do you mean? Did I sleep here?” Oh god, why am I in his room? I fight back a wave of nausea, my hands grazing down my body. Thank God. I’m still in my own clothes.

“You passed out. Swear, I was a perfect gentleman.”

“What do you mean I passed out?” There’s no way I would have. “Violet? Is she still here?” There’s no way she would have left me.

“Yeah, she left last night. Tried to wake you up, but you were out. I told her to let you sleep. I slept on the couch.” This is not happening. I reach for my phone to check the time or see if I have a text from Violet—anything that explains this bizarre turn of events. I scroll through my log. He called again, but it’s not showing up as a missed call.

“Did you answer my phone?” I snap.

“Um, yeah, he kept calling. I thought it was important.”

“And? Did he say anything?””

“No…he hung up on me. That family friend again? What kind of friend is he exactly?”

Fuck! I scramble out of his bed, searching for my things. “Where’s my backpack? I have to go.” How could Violet leave me here?

“It’s…it’s out in the living room. What’s wrong? Nothing happened, I swear.”

It doesn’t matter. If I thought we were done before, Evan just put the final nail in my coffin. I grab my things and race out of there. My head is jumbled, caught in the fog of last night. Why would Violet leave me there? I run through campus, ignoring the stares, and dash into our dorm. When I burst into our room, Violet is sliding on her jacket.

“Hey—”

“Don’t fucking hey me,” I snap. “What the fuck, Violet?”

Her brows shoot up. “What do you mean what the fuck? What’s your problem?”

“Why did you leave me there?” I scream, confused.

“Haze, I texted you and told you I was leaving. You texted back saying you wanted to stay.”

“No, I didn’t. I never would’ve said that.” I scramble for my phone and scroll through my text messages, finding the one I apparently sent her saying I would work through the night with Evan and to take off without me. “No way. I would have never sent this.” Would I have?

This doesn’t make sense. I was really tired, and I had too much to drink. Maybe I was just too exhausted to leave. I trusted him, right?

“Hazel, you’re starting to scare me.”

“Well, I’m freaking out!” I yell, causing her to jump.

“Did something happen? Did Evan do something to you?”

Did he? He wouldn’t. I’m just so stressed out. I knew I shouldn’t have drank with everything on my mind. “No, it’s just…I’m not right. I must have just passed out.”

“Hazel, I’m not sure what’s going on. I’ve been super patient with you, but I’m done waiting for you to come around. Tell me what’s going on, or I’m telling Heath.”

“Are you kidding me?” I snap.

“No! I’m worried about you! You’re not okay. If you won’t open up to me then—”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Why not?”

“Because I can’t. Because when I do, it will change everything.”

She comes up to me, cupping my shoulders. “Whatever it is you’re going through, you can’t do it alone. Not anymore. You’re suffering. I see it daily.” I shake my head and squeeze my eyes shut. I can’t tell her. Once this secret is out, I can’t take it back. It will no longer be our dirty little—

“Hazel, tell me. Are you in some kind of trouble? Did someone do something—”

“No, it’s nothing like that.” She waits for me to explain, but I stay silent. I don’t even know where to start. She squeezes me again and wraps me in her arms. The weight of my secret and the pain I’m carrying becomes too much, and I break down and cry.

“Oh, Hazel, it kills me to see you this way. Whatever it is, it can’t be that bad.”

“I’m sleeping with my dad’s best friend,” I cry, hiccupping into her shoulder.

“Oooh…okay, wow. Didn’t expect that. That’s bad.”

“I know.” I sob harder.

“Oh, Hazel, how did this happen? Did he force you—”

I instantly pull away. “No. It’s not like that. I pursued him.” Her brows raise in shock. “I flirted and taunted him until he finally gave in, and now…”

“Jesus, don’t tell me you’re pregnant.”

I shake my head. “No, but he cut it off. He told me we could never be together because of Dad. He stole my heart and claimed every part of me, and then let me go. He doesn’t want me anymore.” I lose it again, and Violet captures me in her arms, letting me soak her shirt.