Page 57 of Spiteful Lies
“What about Bryce? He’s offered to help.”
“He was willing to take a bullet for the team. You must know he proposed to me. He took me to a lovely inn and offered me his grandmother’s ring. I turned him down. He tried to look upset, but I could feel the waves of relief coming off him as beads of sweat fell off his forehead. He really loves you. Have you chosen?”
“I can’t make up my mind,” I reply, “Each one has something I treasure, and I would miss it if it were gone. I have obvious superficial reasons, but I also have deeper ones. I find it hard to share those feelings. Sometimes even to myself.”
Charlotte wraps her arms around me. “Astrid, I may have problems, but I don’t envy you. You’re a smart girl. You have to figure something out.”
I swallow hard. “I thought maybe if they’re willing, they could share me.”
“You naughty girl,” Charlotte covers her mouth as her eyes widen. “That’s a delicious idea. But don’t be so modest. They won’t be sharing you—you’re allowing them to spend time with you.” Charlotte winks, and I have to laugh.
“You’re the only person I could say this to and not have you think I’m crazy. I love you, Charlotte. You have a sweet heart underneath that hair product.”
“You,” she scoffs, “You’re the best sister anyone could ever have, and I treasure that more than any of Howland’s riches. Find the happiness you deserve and take it even if you think you don’t. Because you do, Astrid. You really do.”
Charlotte grabs her purse and a bag. The rest will be sent to storage while she’s smiling through dinner with Rawlins. We walk carefully along the path leading to the stone gate, and I hold back a tear. I don’t want her to cry with me.
“I’ll miss Stonehaven, but most of all, I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll be around,” I tell her.
Charlotte shakes her head. “It won’t be the same.”
I lower my head and think about how little I see Nova now. It won’t be the same. The Uber appears at the corner, approaching us swiftly. I grab hold of Charlotte and squeeze her as if I’ll never let her go. I can’t lose anyone else. It will gut me. I step back, and we smile stupidly at each other while our emotions are out there.
“I love you, Charlotte. I don’t say that much, but I do.”
“Oh, Astrid, you’ll see me tomorrow at Evelyn’s.” She smiles. “But in the meantime, I love you to pieces.” Charlotte jumps into the Uber before we both bawl like babies. I try to remember us as little kids, but I can’t. It doesn’t matter. At least we got a second chance.
I turn and head back toward the campus. I start to glare when I see Wyatt standing by the dining hall. All this time I thought he was stone-cold broke. He looks away when he sees me as if he’s not sure what to do. Wyatt may have lied, but at least he’s not running away. He waits for me so he can face the music.
“Hey,” he calls out, “Astrid, let’s talk.”
I don’t answer him as I walk by him into the dining hall. The hall is kept open while people hurry in to grab something to go. We sit down at the boys’ table. I opt for a coffee and a bagel. Wyatt asks if he can get a hardboiled egg with his coffee. The girl smiles at him, and he gives her a charming look before she hurries off.
I fold my arms and stare at him, shaking my head. “A hedge fund?”
He clears his throat. “I wasn’t faking anything. Do you think I would have jumped into that ring and gotten my nuts punched if I didn’t need the money?”
I bite down on my lip and try not to laugh. Glaring, I sigh. “I have no idea why you were fighting.”
“I’m not seeing that money until I’m twenty-one, and the amount I can borrow now is limited. I had to explain to my mother that buying last season’s Gucci isn’t budgeting. Astrid, I wasn’t lying. My uncle is mismanaging the family money. Who knows what will be left.”
The girl comes back and places a bagel and coffee in front of me without looking up. I thank her, and she ignores me. She places a coffee in front of Wyatt along with two hardboiled eggs. She smiles at him when he says thank you. I narrow my eyes and look her up and down. She’s got short black hair and eyeliner, perfectly stamped. She reminds me of someone. I nudge his foot under the table, and he frowns.
“I was being nice. I only told you one slightly untruthful fact.”
I scoff, and it’s a bit loud. “So when you have a trust fund, does it come in a lump sum?”
He shrugs. “It depends on how it’s set up. Mine is in increments if my uncle hasn’t squandered everything.”
I roll my eyes and watch him as he eats his egg. He lifts a brow when he notices that I’m looking at him and not eating. “So you have money, but it might be gone?” I ask.
He nods as he finishes chewing. “My principal should be safe, but we’re also in debt. The fight money gave me a little breathing room. Astrid, I didn’t say anything about it because I can’t sweep you off your feet the way Bryce can with his billions.”
I scoff. “Do I look like a girl who needs to be lit with billions?”
He’s quiet, and something in his eyes changes. He pops the other egg in his mouth, but it’s to avoid answering my question.