Page 48 of Little Liar

I frown at the caller ID that pops up on my phone. Olivia never calls me. Instantly, my heart races, and I pull my helmet off and put the phone to my ear.

She’s crying.

Fuck.

If someone hurt her—

“How dare you, Malachi. How fuckingdareyou? You lied to me. You… Y-You lied. You lied and tricked me into teaching you everything, you goddamnfreak. I thought I was helping you, and I was falling for you in the process, yet all along you knew damnwell what to fucking do! What sort of sicko does that? I’m your sister! And I… I was…”

She’s silent for a beat, and my brows furrow even further. Mason can hear everything she’s saying. He’s frowning too. Maybe because he’s a little protective of me and she called me a freak. Her cries are loud enough I don’t even need to have her on speaker.

“I hope screwing Anna was worth ruining whatever fucked-up relationship we had. You’ll never get near me again, Malachi. Never. I hate you. I h-h-hate you so fucking much.”

Rapidly, I fire out a text while trying to control each panicked breath that leaves my lungs. She can’t end this. I won’t let her.

Me: Where are you?

“Fuck you,” she snaps before hanging up.

My gaze lifts to Mason, my mouth dry, pulse rattling in my ears.

He lets out a heavy breath. “Fuck. Family drama. You need to go, man.”

Patting my back as I shove on my helmet, he signs,Don’t do anything stupid. Let her yell at you and then explain your side. We both know that shit with Anna isn’t true.

I nod, barely able to think straight. He adds,Good luck.

It takes me five minutes to speed home. I ditch my bike in the drive, climb up her side of the house to get to her room faster, and jump through her window, which is unlocked. I keep the curtains closed, pacing, waiting for her to come home. She’s not answering my calls, but Dad texted to tell me he’d bring food home for us both, so I know she’ll be here soon.

What the fuck do I say?

I didn’t fuck Anna.

I didn’t even kiss her, so why is she accusing me of this shit?

I go over and over everything I can say. I’ll let her shout, scream, even fucking slap me if she needs to, and then I’ll sit her down, just like Mason said, and explain that I didn’t do anything, and that whatever she’s heard is a bunch of lies. I bet Anna got her ego hurt because I wouldn’t go near her, and this is her way of retaliating. I swear, I’m going to strangle the bitch when I see her.

“Okay,” I hear her say on the opposite side of the door. “I love you, Dad. Thank you.”

My nerves spark into flames as I wait, matching the lighter I keep flicking. She doesn’t open the door right away, although I know she’s there. I move to sit on the bed, my gaze shifting back and forth from the window to the door, and I flick my lighter faster, feeling the burn on the pad of my thumb but unable to stop. If I feel pain, then maybe it’ll coat the panic in my gut.

The door opens.

I hold my breath; I’m looking at the window.

“Get out,” she snaps. “I don’t want to even look at you.”

Shakily, I turn around, but she refuses to look at me. She’s standing aside, holding the door open.

“Leave, Malachi,” she continues, falling against the door, drained, her eyes red from tears. “Whatever we were doing is over. I want you to leave my room, and don’t ever come near me again.”

Fuck no.

I haven’t lied about anything,I sign, but she isn’t looking. It’s partially true. She came on my fingers in her sleep, and I’ve touched her more than the times she’s been conscious, but that’s not why she’s mad.

I go to her and snatch her chin to make her look at me, but she won’t look me in the eye.

“Can you please leave?” Her voice cracks. “You hurt me, and I can’t look at you.”