Aiden plops down on the bed and studies the photo. “That’s horrible,” he finally says. “You’ll seriously leave if I don’t promise?”
“Yes. In all situations regarding the stalker, security, and safety, it’s imperative that you do exactly as I say. Not what you think you should do.”
He frowns but says, “Fine. I promise to defer to you regarding those issues.”
“You always ask me if I trust you, but do you trust me, Aiden? Aside from the stalker issues, if I have an acting career in the future, you’ll have to trust me. You’ll have to believe me over the tabloids. Because they will say that I’m having an affair with my costar. That our chemistry is amazing. Or that I’m doing my hot bodyguard.”
“Will you always tell me the truth? From now on?”
“Yes. In fact, speaking of hot bodyguards . . .”
“Do you have one of those I don’t know about?”
“Actually, yes. Coach Steele. Cooper. He was brought in after the Miami incident.”
“You’ve told a lot of lies.”
“Surprisingly, I haven’t told that many, and I’ve only lied when absolutely necessary.”
I dig through my purse, pull out a little journal, and hand it to him. “It’s my Lie List.”
When he finishes reading, he looks up at me and smirks. “So, you did recognize me as the goalie that day in the cafeteria, huh?”
“Out of all the lies I’ve told you, that’s the one you’re focusing on?”
He pushes me down on the bed, lies on top of me, and talks into my neck. “You liked me.”
“I didn’t know you.”
“Still,” he says, his lips kissing slowly down my chest.
“You were too cute for your own good.” I move my hands down his back, loving the feel of his weight on top of me.
“Now that I have you under my control,” he says with a charming grin. “I’ll ask you about the other lies.”
“Like what?”
“My name is on the list more than anyone else’s.”
“That’s because you ask so many questions.”
“Tell me who Garrett is.”
“Garrett Smith. He owns a personal security firm. The best in the industry.”
“Damian hooked up with groupies and skinny dipped with my sister? Those weren’t lies to protect your identity.”
“Those were little white lies. Like when you told me I was beautiful even when I was really a crying, snotty mess.”
“That wasn’t a lie.”
I roll my eyes at him. “Uh, huh. Whatever.”
“Aberly/Abernathy and Fritz?”
“Abby and Tommy. Damian almost spilled the beans.”
“When you said you saw your uncle. That’s when you went to the club and danced? Then, the next week, the girl got murdered and you went back?”
“Yes.”
“I told you that you would fight back. I shouldn’t have said that. I had no idea.”
“I’m going to continue to fight back.”
“Just know that I’ll help in any way you’ll let me.”
“That’s what I don’t think you understand, Aiden. You’ve already helped me more than you know. All the times you’ve listened to me when I was having a meltdown. Your hugs. The sunsets. They all helped me prepare.”
“Prepare?”
“For the showdown. It happens in every story. You know, the battle. The fight. The climax. Do or die. I needed my time at Eastbrooke to figure out some things. To figure out myself.”
“I think—” he starts to say, only to be interrupted by my phone ringing.
I grab my phone off the nightstand and look at the caller ID.
“It’s Cooper. I need to answer.” I hit accept and say, “Hey, Cooper.”
“What time is brunch?”
“I haven’t heard from Riley yet, but let’s plan on eleven-thirty.”
“Sounds good. I assume since I didn’t hear from you that Aiden took the news well?”
“Yeah, he did. Have you talked to Garrett? Do you know if things were contained?”
“He’s my next call.”
I end the call and peek at the clock. “I suppose we should get ready.”
“I’m gonna go hop in the shower,” Aiden says. “Care to join me?”
I glance at the clock again then say, “Definitely.”
Meet me at the beach.
Brunch
Cooper knocks on our door five minutes before we’re supposed to meet Peyton, Damian, Ariela, and Riley for brunch.
Aiden answers the door as I run the brush through my hair one last time and gloss my lips.
“So, what did Garrett say?” I ask Cooper as we’re walking down the hall toward the elevators.
“So far, so good. There were a few students who made mention of it, but his computer gurus immediately sent them messages with viruses. As soon as they opened them, Garrett’s team got control of their accounts and deleted them. They were up for a very short time. We still have two teams on Vincent, watching him. Just to be sure.”
“Is the school calendar something the public can view?”
“No,” Aiden says. “You have to log in to see it, remember?”
“Oh, yeah. So he wouldn’t know that we’re out for Christmas break.”
“That’s why we’re watching him,” Cooper says.
My phone buzzes with a text.