Page 160 of Tell No Lies

“It was in my car, but I forgot about it.”

He jumped up and took the envelope from me. “Have you opened it yet?”

“No.” I locked eyes with Liv and watched the recognition flood her expression. This was her first in-person experience with the drama that had become my life. “Please open it.”

“Do you want me to call the detectives?”

My shoulders dropped with my heart. When would this end? “Not yet.”

He didn’t look like he agreed, but after a moment he gave me a single nod. Slowly, his finger slid under the fold. Each tiny tear was a rip in my heart. A small step closer to my breaking point.

He tugged the note free and read it silently. His eyes fell closed, and he swore quietly, something I’d rarely heard him do, and judging by Liv’s face, it was a first for her to see him lose his composure.

“What does it say, Brandon?” I was stunned Liv had spoken first.

“I’m so sorry, Aubrey.”

My heartbeat increased against my ribs. “What?”

“It says …” He took a deep breath and read the words I never wanted to hear

Now you know how it feels to have your friends and life ripped away from you. Let’s see if you can survive on your own.

My heartbeat stopped. I was dead inside. Someone was doing this on purpose. Of course, I knew that. Mike and Mckayla hadn’t gotten the pictures from a friend, but knowing someone was directly behind this killed me. Someone hated me so much they wanted to take everything that mattered and rip it away.

“They’re isolating me? Why?”

Liv scooted closer and placed her arms around me, holding me like a scared child. I guessed I was. “Whoever is doing this was threatened by all of the support you have.”

“Had.”

“Aubrey, you are not alone. No matter what that stupid note said, you will never be alone.”

“It sure … feels like … it.” My breaths were coming in short gasps.

She turned to face me and grabbed my face in her hands. “No, Aubrey. Don’t let yourself think that. You have Brandon, Carter, Gage, Cassie, and me. You will never be left alone.”

“They’re doing this on purpose.”

“I know. I don’t know why such a sick person is after you, but you are going to be fine. We will keep you safe.”

My head was shaking involuntarily. Even my subconscious didn’t believe it. “I was safe, because I had my friends around me. Now they’re gone.”

I looked around for Brandon and saw him pacing with his phone in the kitchen. His face was full of rage, and whoever was on the other side of that call was on the receiving end of it.

“I want them back. I want my friends back, Liv.”

She was nodding while gazing out the window. “I know, Aubrey. We’re going to fix this, okay?”

After a tight hug, she jumped up and whispered to Brandon before walking to the door. She waved and gave me a sad smile.

Twenty-Three

School had never been a problem for me. I genuinely enjoyed learning and participating. But over the course of a week, I grew to dread the six hours of emotional torture.

Since the seating arrangement in math was alphabetical, there was no way to get around seeing Mike every morning. He glared at me while I took my seat, and I could feel his laser glare burning a hole in the back of my head.

As soon as the school found out about the breakup, things seemed to shift. Nick had been my saving grace. The moment we were released to do homework, he would grab the corner of my desk and bring me to his side. He took me in when I needed it the most.