Page 32 of Tell No Lies

“Carter? I don’t think that’s appropriate.”

I tried not to react, but his words shocked me. What did he know about Carter?

Talia saved me. “Relax. Carter is Brandon’s best friend. Nothing would happen there. She’s like his little sister.”

Ouch. That’s my worst nightmare. Carter thinking of me as a little sister.

“I just wanted you guys to know what’s going on. Brandon asked me to plan ahead and never go anywhere alone. I’m pretty covered at school and at dance, but I was hoping you guys would be willing to chaperone if needed.”

They each nodded in agreement. I let out a sigh of relief. That had gone better than I had expected, but the girls had made it easy on me.

☼ ☼ ☼

Things went pretty well through the rest of that week and the following one, but by the end, I was beginning to feel as if I was under house arrest. I hadn’t been on my own in eleven days.

Even leaving the dance studio without a chaperone was out of the question. As if the person planning on attacking me would run away at the sight of me walking with Cassie.

I went through the motions of school, but I felt like a zombie. The nightmares had come back with a vengeance. I barely slept, and it was starting to show.

Today, during lunch, the girls were talking and tried to include me, but I was zoning out. Suddenly someone slammed their hands down on the table in front on me. I jumped and looked up, meeting Tucker’s gaze.

He had a slight smile as he leaned down and whispered, “Party tonight. Call me if you’re interested in breaking free.”

By the time his words registered, he was walking away with Andy.

Mckayla leaned over and asked what he said, but I just shook my head. His words had woken something within me. Going somewhere new with Tucker might be a good idea. Otherwise, I was going to go insane soon. I needed a break from the monotony … but there was no way Brandon would approve. Or the girls. Or Mike. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea.

Later that night, I sat staring at the walls in my room. It felt as if they were closing in on me. I was bored out of my mind. Reading out on the balcony didn’t help; neither did watching a movie. Brandon was at work again tonight, so he had security on guard. I refused to call someone to babysit me this time. Feeling like a burden to my friends was not high on my list of priorities, and I felt as if I was close to crossing that line.

Mike had made it clear he was always willing, but I didn’t want to send him the wrong message before I had time to figure out how I felt.

My phone sat next to me on my bed, taunting me. It was beckoning me to make the call. I knew calling Tucker would be a mistake: Alexis had burned that into my brain from the moment I met her. It might be a mistake, but it was something to do. Plus, I wouldn’t be alone, so it would be within the rules, right?

The text was sent before I had time to change my mind. Just one night out wouldn’t kill me, and Tucker and Andy would be there to watch over me.

Thirty minutes later, I was dressed in the black dress Alexis had worn on the yacht. It probably didn’t look as good on me as it had on her, but it made me feel as if I was someone else. Someone who was brave and didn’t hide at home on Saturday nights. I was finishing my makeup when I heard a knock. Slipping into some nude heels, I grabbed my smallest purse and opened the door.

Tucker was leaning against the frame with a smirk on his face. “Hi, babe.”

I took in his dark jeans and tight white shirt. He looked as if he’d just walked off a Calvin Klein ad. Just behind him was Andy, who looked more casual in jeans and a soft-looking tee. Andy smiled at me, looking apologetic for his friend.

“Thanks for letting me come out with you guys. It beats being alone on a Saturday night.” I pushed Tucker out of the way so I could lock the door behind me. “Where’s the party?”

Andy pressed the elevator button but stayed silent. Tucker followed me inside when the doors opened. “It’s down on the peninsula. One of the guys from the team that graduated a few years ago lives there now.”

So, this was a college party? Oh boy.

Andy led us to a newer Jeep, but it wasn’t uncovered like Talia’s. He opened the passenger door for me and smiled as he let me in. Tucker slid into the back seat behind him. Rap music blasted out of the speakers when he turned on the ignition.

Andy grimaced and turned it down low. “Sorry. Tucker tends to turn that up whenever he drives with me.”

I looked in the back seat, and Tucker shook his head. “Whatever, man. You like it too.”

They both laughed and kept a conversation going as we drove along the beach to the neighborhood at the end of the peninsula. I’d run along these streets before but had never paid much attention to the houses. They were slender, tall structures that resembled row homes in the South. It must have been the best way to maximize beachfront property.

We pulled up next to a dark house, and I looked over at Andy. He must have understood my expression. “The house is a few blocks up, but there’s never parking, so I just took the first one I saw.”

I nodded but began to wonder how big this party was.