Chapter 30: A Lie that lingers
Merlina’s thoughts stalled. The word ’girlfriend’ lodged itself in her chest like a sharp pebble in a shoe, small, but impossible to ignore. She hadn’t prepared for this moment, hadn’t even considered the possibility that Craig would repeat it to anyone, much less Louis.
The fact that she even took that chance sounded dumb to her now, reckless, even. Especially because Craig Lesnar wasn’t just anyone. He was best friends with Keith, who happened to be Phoebe’s boyfriend. Which meant that one lie, blurted out in a moment of panic, could’ve traveled faster than she’d ever anticipated.
Louis watched her, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Didn’t see that one coming, huh?"
She tried to laugh, but it caught in her throat. "He... he really said that?" Her voice scraped the surface of calm, but the heat blooming across her cheeks betrayed her.
Louis nodded. "Typical Craig. Always in his own head."
Her heart thudded in her ears. He said it out loud. He believed it. She had made him believe it.
"What... what did you say?" she asked, her tone carefully even.
"I didn’t say anything. Let him stew in it," Louis said with a shrug. "Who cares what he thinks?" He chuckled to himself. "I’m just wondering where he got that from."
Merlina’s pulse quickened. "Probably because we showed up at the party together," she said too fast, too defensive. She looked away, hoping he wouldn’t see the guilt crawling across her face.
But the truth sat heavy on her tongue.
She’d let him back her into a corner, literally. The hallway outside the den, the low music, the way his eyes searched hers like he had a right to the answer. She could still feel the wall at her back, the tension in the air, his questions laced with accusation.