Chapter 6

My water bottle hit the floor.

Plastic clattered against the tiles.

They both snapped their heads toward me.

Liam rushed over. Panic in his eyes.

A massive lie spilled right out of his mouth.

He claimed he was just playing the fake boyfriend to scare off the creeps.

He only did it because she was my best friend.

I bought every single word.

I even helped cover for them.

Months later, Sophie actually got a "boyfriend."

She claimed some out-of-town college guy was sweeping her off her feet.

The perks started rolling in immediately.

Ubers magically appeared whenever it rained.

Daily DoorDash deliveries kept her fed.

Her closet filled up with designer clothes.

Someone even footed the bill for her expensive SAT prep.

She lived like absolute royalty.

Sometimes I would spot red marks on her neck.

I always teased her about those nasty mosquito bites.

She always forced an awkward smile.

I thought she was just being shy.

Now I see the truth.

She was drowning in guilt.

I stared at the liar standing in front of me.

"When did it start?" I asked softly.

"When did you two start hooking up?"

"Was it Valentine's Day? That ski trip sophomore year? Or—"

"Ava, stop." Liam’s voice dropped.

Total ice.

"This right here is exactly why I didn't want a label on us."

He glared at me like I was the villain.

He twisted the knife with every word.

"Sophie doesn't have your safety net. She has to fight just to survive."

"What is so wrong with me helping her out?"

"You used to be so chill. Now you're just suffocating."