Page 76 of Tell No Lies

They all looked confused.

“If he really cared about me like he said he did, then he wouldn’t have been so quick to dump me. He would have talked to me about it and figured things out. He saw his way of escape and jumped as soon as he could.”

Talia stopped and pulled me into a hug. “I’m so sorry, Aubrey. I thought he loved you.”

Love? That was too strong, but I thought he really cared.

Alexis reached out. “Do you want me to try talking to him again?”

“No. I miss him, but to be honest … I haven’t even cried over him. I’ve just been numb. Don’t you think I should be more upset? I thought I really, really liked him.”

Alexis, who was quietly listening, suddenly broke out into laughter. “I’m sorry. I swear I’m not laughing at you. I’m laughing at the situation. Your stalker is trying to ruin your life, but he got you out of a pointless relationship.”

Mckayla slapped her arm and shook her head. “What is wrong with you? She just said she had feelings for him.”

“No, she didn’t!” Alexis pointed out, “She said she thought she did. Don’t you see it? You two were pushed together because you were his ideal girl come to life, and he was your friend. It was convenient, but I never saw any passion.” She paused and looked around to see if we were catching on. “You guys! He liked how she looked and what people thought of her. She liked him as a friend and brother. She only started dating him because he threatened to cut ties with her if she didn’t. No one else saw this?”

We all shook our heads. How had she and Gage both seen this and never told me before?

“I mean, I knew you two cared about each other, but come on! Look at how Mckayla and Sean are together … it’s borderline disgusting. Even Talia, the most emotionally guarded one, is public about her feelings with Mark. You can tell they love each other, but did anyone ever see that with Mike and Aubrey?”

I automatically started shaking my head. She was right. Did I get butterflies around him? Maybe at first, but not while we were officially dating. It seemed to cause physical pain when the girls had been separated from their boyfriends, but it had never been like that with Mike. I was comfortable with him but didn’t really miss him when he was gone.

The realization of her words changed my perspective on the past several days. Gage wasn’t making things up; he was just the first to point them out to me. Mike was one of my best friends, and I cared about him deeply, but not romantically. He could be chivalrous and sweep me off my feet in the moment, but I had never craved him.

My stalker had actually saved us both. We might not be speaking now, but I thought our friendship could be salvaged. Now that I understood how I really felt about him, I could talk to him and try to get back what we had.

“You’re absolutely right, Alexis. He’s my best friend, but I never loved him the way he wanted me to. How did I not see this?”

“It’s always blinding in the moment. I know he’s hurting too, Aubrey. I think you two can fix things.”

“I hope so.”

Talia reached over and grabbed my hand. “He was your friend first. You just need to remind him of that.”

I nodded and caught Mckayla watching me. “What?”

“If you’re not secretly getting with Gage, then why weren’t you that into Mike?”

Alexis laughed first. “She doesn’t have to be in love with someone all of the time.”

“No, you’re right, but she is.” Her gaze was becoming increasingly unsettling.

“What are you talking about? She doesn’t like Gage or Mike like that.” Alexis wasn’t catching on like Mckayla apparently had.

“Nope, but she does love someone. Don’t you?” She was staring directly into my soul.

I barely breathed out my response. “Yes.”

There was a collective gasp, and a chorus of “Who?” broke out.

There was no chance I would be able to explain myself until they calmed down. Patiently, I waited until they were quiet and focusing on me. “Carter.”

Twenty-Four

I was hopeful that the girls would understand when I told them, but I was completely shocked by their responses.

Mckayla’s eyes never left mine. “I knew it. This whole time, it’s been him, hasn’t it?”