One of Us is Lying(96)
My cheeks burn, and the corners of my mouth keep trying to turn upward. My face is a fickle traitor. Nate sees it and brightens, but when I don’t say anything he pulls at the neck of his T-shirt and drops his head like I’ve already turned him down. “Well. Just think about it, okay?”
I take a deep breath. Being dumped by Nate was heartbreaking, and the idea of opening myself up to that kind of hurt again is scary. But I put myself on the line for him once, when I told him how I felt about him. And again, when I helped get him out of jail. He’s worth at least a third time. “If you’ll admit that Insurgent is a cinematic tour de force and you’re dying to see it, I’ll consider your proposal.”
Nate snaps his head up and gives me a smile like the sun coming out. “Insurgent is a cinematic tour de force and I’m dying to see it.”
Happiness starts bubbling through me, making it hard to keep a straight face. I manage, though, because I’m not going to make things that easy on him. Nate can sit through the entire series before we leave the friend zone. “That was fast,” I say. “I expected more resistance.”
“I already wasted too much time.”
I give a small nod. “All right, then. I’ll call you.”
Nate’s smile fades a little. “We never exchanged numbers, though, did we?”
“Still have your burner phone?” I ask. Mine’s been charging in my closet for three months. Just in case.
His face lights up again. “Yeah. I do.”
The gentle but insistent honk of a horn penetrates my brain. Dad’s BMW idles directly behind us, and Mom lowers the passenger window to peer outside. If I had to use one word to describe her expression it would be resigned. “There’s my ride,” I tell Nate.
He reaches for my hand and squeezes it quickly before letting go, and I swear to God, actual sparks shoot across my skin. “Thanks for not telling me to get lost. I’ll wait to hear from you, okay? Whenever you’re ready.”
“Okay.” I move past him toward my parents’ car and feel him turn to watch me. I finally let myself smile, and now that I’ve started, I can’t stop. That’s okay, though. I catch his reflection in the backseat window, and he can’t either.
Acknowledgments
So many people helped me along the journey from idea to publication, and I will be forever grateful to all of them. First, a profound thank-you to Rosemary Stimola and Allison Remcheck, without whom this book wouldn’t exist. Thank you for taking a chance on me, and for your brilliant advice and unwavering support.
To Krista Marino, thank you for being an incredible editor and for your deep understanding of my story and its characters. Your insightful feedback and guidance strengthened this book in ways I didn’t realize were possible. To all the team at Random House/Delacorte Press, I’m honored to be counted among your authors.
Writers are so much better when they’re part of a community. To Erin Hahn, my first critique partner, thank you for being an honest critic, a tireless cheerleader, and a good friend. Thank you Jen Fulmer, Meredith Ireland, Lana Kondryuk, Kathrine Zahm, Amelinda Berube, and Ann Marjory K for your thoughtful reads and words of wisdom. Every one of you made this book better.
Thank you, Amy Capelin, Alex Webb, Bastian Schlueck, and Kathrin Nehm for bringing One of Us Is Lying to audiences around the world.
Thank you to my sister, Lynne, at whose kitchen table I sat and announced, “I’m finally going to write a book.” You’ve read every word I’ve written since, and believed in me when all this seemed like a pipe dream. Thank you, Luis Fernando, Gabriela, Carolina, and Erik for your love and support, and for putting up with my laptop at family gatherings. Thank you, Jay and April, who are part of every sibling story I write, and Julie for always checking in on book progress.
Deep gratitude to my mom and dad for instilling in me a love of reading and the discipline required for writing. And to my second-grade teacher, the late Karen Hermann Pugh, who was the first to ever call me a storyteller. I wish I could have thanked you in person.
All the love in the world to my kind, smart, and funny son, Jack. I am proud of you always.
And finally, to my readers—thank you from the bottom of my heart for choosing to spend your time with this book. I couldn’t be happier to share it with you.