Lies I Told(66)

His breath near my ear sent a shiver up my spine. “Me too.”

He walked backward a few steps, still smiling, before he turned and disappeared into the crowd.

Selena grinned wickedly. “Things must be heating up between you and Mr. Perfect.”

I tried to smile. “You could say that.”

“I’ll trade you details with Logan for details with David,” she said.

“That, my friend, is a deal.”


We turned the corner, and I slipped Selena’s bracelet off my wrist and dropped it into the pocket of my sweater. By the time she found it, she’d probably hate my guts like everyone else. But at least she’d have her mother’s bracelet.

“Let’s have it,” she said when we reached her locker.

I handed her the sweater. “Thanks.”

“No problem. Just don’t forget to get it before Wednesday.”

It took me a minute to realize what she meant: winter break started Thursday. I imagined everyone waking up Christmas morning, opening presents in their pajamas, texting friends to compare gifts. I had no idea where I would be, what I would be doing. And while our next stop was always a little vague for obvious reasons, this was different. We’d be in another country. And we’d probably never be able to come back.

She shut her locker. “Want to do something tomorrow?”

I nodded. “Sure.”

“Great! Text me.” She turned to go.

“Selena?”

“Yeah?”

People were milling around us, rushing to class before the late bell. There was so much I wanted to say. So much I wanted to tell her.

“I just . . .” I swallowed hard, trying to keep it together. “I’m not sure if I ever told you how much your friendship has meant—how much it means—to me.”

She smiled. “I feel the same way. I don’t know what I ever did before you came here.”

“You did just fine,” I told her. “You’re better than all of these people put together. Don’t ever forget it.”

Her smile faltered a little. “Grace . . . is everything okay?”

I forced a laugh. “Yeah! Sure! It’s the holidays.” I shrugged, rolling my eyes. “I guess it makes me a little sappy. I just wanted you to know how much I love you.”

She threw her arms around me. “I love you, too, girl! Now stop. Before you make me cry and stuff.”

“Deal!” I held out my hand. “We’re all business from here on out.”

She slapped my hand away before turning to go. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Takes one to know one,” I called after her.

I was still standing in the empty hall when the late bell rang.





Fifty-Two


I packed up my things and left them in my room. It was time to go to Logan’s.

I looked around the house as I made my way down the stairs. I would miss the high ceilings, the tile floors that were always cool underfoot, the way the sunlight streamed in through the west-facing windows in the late afternoon. I wondered what the next house would look like. If it would be cold or warm there. If it would have an ocean or lake nearby.

I walked out without looking back. Looking back only made things worse.

Parker was sitting on the porch when I stepped outside. He looked up at me, eyes hidden behind the lenses of his sunglasses.

“All set?” he asked.

I nodded and headed for the car.

We didn’t want the Saab sitting in the Fairchilds’ driveway in the morning, and we’d have our hands full with the truck and dummy car we would use to meet up with my mom when it was all over. Parker would drop me off at Logan’s and my dad would deal with the Saab.

I realized suddenly that I wasn’t quite sure what that meant, how it all worked. In fact, there was a lot I didn’t know. I’d put too much power in the hands of my parents. If I decided to stay—if I decided not to leave with Parker—that would have to change. I needed to start asking questions. To start making decisions for myself.

I looked up at the house next door as I slid into the passenger seat.

“You okay?” Parker asked as he started up the car.

“Peachy,” I said.

He put the car in gear and pulled away from the curb. He didn’t speak again until we were on the main road leading to Logan’s house.

“I’m sorry, Grace.”

I kept my eyes on the ocean, the familiar strip of shimmering blue satin that seemed to go on and on. “For what?”

He sighed. “I know I’ve been a pain in the ass. But I also know you really liked him. Logan, I mean.”

“I really liked all of them.” We were both speaking in the past tense. Like Playa Hermosa was already behind us.

“Even Rachel Mercer?” he asked.

“At least she’s real.”

“Grace . . .”

I glanced over at him, struck by the sadness in his voice. “What?”

“You’re real, too. Don’t let Cormac and Renee and the way we’ve been taught to live make you think otherwise. You did what you had to. We both did.”

“I could have said no,” I said softly. “I could have refused.”

“When you were thirteen? Fourteen?” He shook his head. “This has been such a huge mind f*ck, you don’t even realize it yet. But someday you will. Someday you’ll look back and see who the real villains were.”