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‘I saw enough,’ I snap, turning to him. ‘You were about to kiss, Ash.’

He runs a hand through his hair, frustration written all over him. ‘We weren’t about to kiss. I swear. We were arguing, actually.’

I shake my head, jumping off the bed and backing away, as if distance might help. ‘I don’t want to hear your pathetic lies. I know what I saw.’

‘Bryn, please,’ he says, following me anyway. ‘You have to understand, it’s not what it looked like. It’s really not my place to say, but …’

She bristles. ‘Oh, so you two have secrets, do you?’

‘No, but I’m worried about her. There are things you don’t know.’

I laugh under my breath, the sound sharp and humourless, uncharacteristic for me. ‘Yeah, I’m starting to realise that.’

He steps closer, looking desperate now. ‘No, that’s not what I mean.’

Clenching my jaw so tight my molars hurt, I glare at the wall with my hands on my hips, trying to calm my heaving chest.

‘Look at me,’ he begs. ‘You’re the one I came here for. I wouldn’t do that to you. I’m genuinely worried about your sister, and you need to listen to what I’m about to tell you.’

He touches my arms as he guides me to my mattress. He pulls out his phone, tossing it onto the bed.

‘So, you remember when we met?’ he asks, his eyes searching mine, his hands gathering up my own.

‘Yes.’

A floorboard creaks, and we both turn to the door. Holding my breath, I wait for the door to open, but it doesn’t.

Ash’s phone vibrates and I glance at it. My eyes widen when I see the number. It’s unsaved, but I know it. Yanking the phone from the bed before he can react, I click on the text and stare down at an image of my sister, topless, in a mirror selfie.

Isla: Almost got caught this time. Isn’t it fun?

My jaw drops open so wide, I’m surprised it doesn’t hit the floor. I don’t move. I just stare at the phone as everything clicks into place in the worst possible way. So that’s what it was outside – the closeness. I know why Isla looked like she’d won some sort of prize. She’s done it again: taken what’s mine for herself, simply because she can.

Ash’s eyes land on his phone in my hand. ‘What’s wrong?’

With shaking hands, I hold it out to him. ‘It’s not what I think, huh?’

His face drains of colour. He looks as shocked as I do at the photo. Wow, he’s a damn good actor.

‘It’s not—’ he starts, then stops, breathing hard. ‘I don’t know what the fuck that is. We don’t text each other.’

‘Right,’ I whisper brokenly. ‘Because she just happens to have your number.’

‘I gave it to her because I’m worried about her. Let me talk to you, and it will all make sense.’

He reaches for me then thinks better of it. His hands curl into fists at his sides when I reel back from him, stepping off the bed and hugging my arms around myself.

‘Please,’ he says, his voice pained and raw. ‘Please just listen to me. It’s not true. Nothing happened. I didn’t—’

‘You didn’t what?’ I cut in. ‘You didn’t mean for it to happen? Or you didn’t mean to get caught?’

‘That’s not fair,’ he says, his desperation bleeding through. ‘I’d never hurt you. I wouldn’t ever do that to you.’

‘I’m not a fucking idiot, Ash!’ I growl, not caring how loud I’m being. ‘I saw you two with my own eyes, and now this? You told me you think she’s beautiful. Those were words out of your mouth. You expect me to believe you now?’

He shakes his head, eyes shining, panic written all over him. ‘I need you to believe me, and I need you to listen to what I have to say.’

I stare at him for a long second, my thoughts tangling. Every instinct tells me to walk away, to shut this down before it hurts me more, but I know myself too well. I know not knowing would haunt me. There would always be a what if.