Page 88 of Tell No Lies

Talia and Alexis whooped, making everyone laugh.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mike. “I’m so grateful for my amazing friends who’ve cared enough about me to put up with me through this.” I was staring at him, waiting for him to look at me, but it was like he was purposely avoiding my gaze. I gave up and looked around again. I smiled at Cassie and shook my head. “I can’t even imagine what you guys thought about what was happening, but you all supported and protected me anyway.”

I was starting to tear up, but I cleared my throat and moved on. “I’m so, so grateful for my family. Diane and Steve, thank you for putting up with the madness and loving me through it. Brandon, you have been my rock. I don’t know what I would have done without you and Carter.”

I broke free from Mckayla and walked into my brother’s arms. “Thank you,” I whispered against his chest and hoped he knew how much I meant it.

“I love you, Bree.”

I stepped back and smiled before turning to find Carter. I gave him a tight hug and kissed his cheek.

“Alright, enough of that! Let’s eat, drink, and be merry.”

Cheers followed my admittedly lame speech. I cuddled against Carter and looked around the room. How lucky could one girl be? A room full of people who had proven they’d be there for me no matter what.

Carter kissed my head and whispered against my hair. “It looks like Mike is waiting for you.”

I looked in the direction he nodded, and sure enough, Mike was watching me. I broke away from Carter and walked directly to him.

“Thanks for coming.”

Mike looked as if he felt awkward for the first time since I’d met him. “Brandon texted me. I figured it was my turn to apologize.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but he held up his hand.

“No, I need to. I said some pretty awful things to you, things you didn’t deserve. There’s so much I’m sorry for. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you that day. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you when you told me you didn’t cheat on me. I’m sorry I made you choose between me and Gage. I was a lousy boyfriend, but I guess I figured that out too late.” He nodded in the direction of Carter, and I felt a blush rise to my cheeks.

“Thank you. For apologizing and for all that you’ve done for me. I don’t think a few rough days should cancel out the months of good times though.”

He looked at me in disbelief. “You still want to be friends?”

I pretended to consider it for a moment. “Yeah, I do.”

Suddenly his arms were wrapped around me. “Thank you, Aubrey. I’ve missed you so much.”

I squeezed him for a second before breaking away. “Me too.” I watched his signature smile return to his face before I turned and went back to where I belonged.

Carter had a plate of my favorites waiting for me. “I got you some before Alexis and Mckayla ate everything.”

I looked across the island and laughed. Bear and Donny were encouraging the girls to eat more and more while Talia stood back laughing.

Watching everyone I cared about interact made my heart sore. This was how it should have been all along, but who knew if they would have turned out like this without the drama that had occurred.

Everything happened for a reason. What mattered was how you handled it. I’d chosen to lean on them, and together, as this group, we’d been able to overcome the horrors Tucker had created.

Epilogue

Three Years Later

“Everyone needs to line up!” Diane was running around pushing people in the direction of where they belonged. I stood next to Mckayla, peeking out the window to the gardens. It was a perfect day. The skies were blue, and the ocean was crashing in the distance.

“We’re starting!” Diane gave us one more look before hurrying out to her seat.

Sean walked up to us with a strange look on his face. “Where’s Carter?”

“I thought he was with you.” I tried to squelch the panic rising in my stomach. I saw him earlier, so it wasn’t like he was running late.

Just as I was ready to start asking around, he ran up to us, breathless.