Page 14 of Twisted (Never After)

How could I think that?

Anger at his request isn’t a reason for selfish thoughts.Evilthoughts. But I’m having a hard time coming to terms with my emotions.

It’s been three days since the conversation with him when he turned my world upside down. Seventy-two hours for anxiety to fill up every vein until they’re humming, high- pitched, and tight. And I’m no closer to a solution than I was.

My phone vibrates against the top of the table to the right of my empty plate, and I look down, guilt flip-flopping through my chest when Aidan’s name flashes across the screen. I’ve been avoiding him, not sure what to say— what todo— and not wanting to hear the heartbreak in his voice when I have to tell him what’s going on.

I had hoped to have thought of something by now, something that could save me from this nightmare without hurting every single person that I love, but clearly, that’s not the case.

“What’s up with you?” Riya asks, snapping her fingers in front of my face.

I shrug, flipping my cell over until it’s facedown. “Nothing. Why?”

Her brow raises until it touches her dark hairline, and she leans over the table, her hand shooting out like she’s going for my phone.

Trepidation surges through me and I grab it clumsily, shoving it in my lap.

I’m not sure why I panic the way I do. She knows Aidan exists. She knows we’ve been friends and that I care for him. In fact, they’ve been friends for just as long, because more often than not, Riya would come to my house for the holidays while her parents were vacationing in the south of France. The three of us bonded the way any kids of the same age with nothing but time and boredom on their hands would.

She just doesn’t know exactlywhathe means to me. I’ve wanted to tell her a thousand times, but it’s just…too risky. Sighing, I attempt to run a hand through my hair, my fingers getting caught in the curls.

“Mm- hmm,” she snarks, her back slamming into her chair. “You’re a shit liar, you know?”

I grab my champagne flute and gulp back more of my Bellini.

She smirks. “You’re really not gonna tell me?”

Again, my secrets skim the surface of the deep place where I keep them locked up tight, the war inside me weakening my defenses until I can’t fight anymore, especially considering my father’s demand and my promise to Aidan.

“I hooked up with Aidan,” I admit.

It’s not the whole truth, but it assuages the weight of keeping it inside all these years at least.

“And?” She rolls her eyes, barking out a laugh. “What else is new?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I squint.

She leans forward, resting her elbows on the white linen of the patio table. “I’m your best friend, Yas. You don’t have to tell me you’re in love with someone for me to know. You two have always been absolute shit at hiding anything.”

My heart stutters, teetering on the edge of a cliff and deep diving through my middle.How long has she known?And if she knows, then does anyone else?

“Yeah, well, my father’s bitch boy caught us the other night.” My cheeks heat and I groan, dropping my head into the palms of my hands, pressing until white dots scatter behind my closed eyelids.

Riya sucks in a breath. “Who, Julian?”

I let out a heartless laugh, my stomach souring at his name.

“The one and only.”

“Oh,shit.”

“Yeah.” I chew on the corner of my lip until the skin starts to break. “I don’t think he’ll say anything though. He seemed to like what he saw.”

Riya’s deep eyes widen, her dark gaze sparking and a devious grin spreading across her face. “You slut! You let him watch?”

“I didn’tlethim do anything,” I say. “I just…didn’t stop him.”

Once again, revulsion tears its way through my insides, because how the hell could I have possibly let this happen?