The Lies We Tell (The Four 1)

I gathered the books I needed as quickly as I could and hurried back to my apartment, on high alert, constantly checking to make sure I wasn’t being followed. Kinslee was still out; she’d be at least another half an hour, so I settled at my desk with a huge mug of coffee, books piled around me and my laptop open, to start on my assignment, trying to push James’ weird behaviour to the back of my mind.

I wanted to tell the Four. What I didn’t want to do was to cause any more drama, knowing how much Caiden disliked James. Would that stop me telling them, though? Fuck, no. Seriously, what had James been thinking? Asshole.

I decided to wait until the boys got back from AMC to tell them what had happened—there was no way I was going to be responsible for distracting them from their task.

Sipping my mug of coffee, I returned to my books. Seven o’clock. The boys would be getting ready to go to AMC. I could only hope that they got lucky and found out who it was Arlo was meeting, or what it was he was doing on a Tuesday night.

As if I’d conjured them up, two minutes later my phone buzzed with a message from Weston.

West: We scrub up well, don’t we *wink emoji*

An image of the Four appeared on my screen. All in dark suits, hair styled, tattoos peeking out. Cade had a sexy, arrogant smirk on his face, Cass had a huge grin, West was winking, and Zayde, shock of all shocks, was actually sticking his tongue out at the camera, showing his barbell piercing.

Me: *woman fanning herself GIF*

Me: Bloody hell. I can’t handle the hotness. This is now my phone wallpaper.

West: Thought you’d like it. We’re leaving in a few. Message you later if it’s not too late.

Me: Good luck. I don’t care how late it is, I need to hear from you guys tonight.

West: OK. Speak later.

Me: Be careful.

West: Always.

I placed my phone down and started working on my assignment, trying to block everything else out of my mind. As I sipped my coffee, my thoughts went back to James in the library. What was his weird, shifty behaviour all about, and why on earth would he try to kiss me?

I didn’t have to wonder for long.

A few minutes later, my phone buzzed with a message from Caiden, then another, then another.

Caiden: Couldn’t stay away from Granville?

Caiden: You fucking betrayed me.

Caiden: We’re done.

A forwarded video appeared in the list of messages, and I clicked on it with a trembling hand.

No.

TWENTY-NINE

I dialled Caiden’s number. Straight to voicemail. Next, I tried Cassius, then Weston, then Zayde. All went straight to voicemail.

“Argh!” I shouted, frustrated, tears filling my eyes. What should I do? Nausea filled my stomach—what if I couldn’t explain things? What if Caiden didn’t believe me? I couldn’t even see him in person to tell him what had happened.

If only I’d mentioned what h

ad happened in the library.

Tapping out a message on my phone, I sent it to him, and hoped for the best.

Me: We need to talk. NOTHING HAPPENED. Check your voicemail. Phone me as soon as you get this, PLEASE.

Then I called him and left a message. “Cade, it’s me. Well, I guess you already know that. That video isn’t how it looks.” My voice cracked, and I cleared my throat, trying not to cry. “James cornered me in the library, and he had a black eye. What you saw in the video was me showing concern and trying to comfort him, and then—” I choked back a sob. “—and then, he tried to kiss me, and I froze. As soon as I realised what was going on, I stamped on his foot as hard as I could to make him stop. Cade, you have to believe me… I would never… I only want you.” I was crying by now, and I hung up the phone and buried my face in my arms, leaning on the desk.