Page 124 of The Lucky One
“Everything,” Danielle interjected, her gaze somewhat less hostile now.
“I told her about Marna blackmailing you,” Kiki clarified.
I instinctively covered my face with my hands. I couldn’t think clearly. This wasn’t how I intended Emily to find out. I wanted to explain it to her myself. “I need to talk to her,” I muttered, and the girls cleared off of my bed. “Thanks for filling me in, I’ll call her now.”
“No way you’re not getting off that easy,” Natalia said, pointing a finger at me. “You kept a huge secret from Emily, Denson. She’s my friend, and if you lie to her, you lie to me too!”
I sighed. “Nat, I didn’t want to get her involved in this shit.”
“So this is the big secret? The reason you ghosted her?” Danielle raised an eyebrow. Kiki stood with her arms crossed by the stairs. She had kept my secret, at least.
“Yeah, I didn’t want to involve her until I figured it out.”
“So, have you... figured it out?” Danielle stuck her hands on her hips.
“Sorta. So, if you could all go, I want to call my girl.”
I gestured toward the stairs. Goosebumps crawled up the back of my neck when I remembered that Emily wasn’t my girl anymore.
They went, Natalia and Danielle looking annoyed, Kiki with her shoulders sloping down. As soon as the door closed I rushed to my phone. Multiple notifications from Marna—including pictures of Emily dress-shopping. In the last one she was collapsed on the ground.
Marna: This is what I achieved just with my words. If you don’t get me what I want, I’m done talking.
I dialed Little German’s digits. I had to hear that she was doing okay. After four rings she answered, her voice hoarse as though she’d just woken. “Hey,” she said shortly.
“Did I wake you up?”
“No...”
“Can I come over? I want to talk to you.”
“I don’t want you to come over.” She sounded pissed—no, even worse, disappointed.
“But—”
“Kiki already told me everything I need to know. I understand why you tried to protect me, but did you consider Paul’s safety for even one second? He could’ve been seriously hurt! I asked you about it and you lied.”
“I never lied,” I said. “I just didn’t say—everything.”
She huffed. “Seriously, Jon? Withholding information is the same as lying. You keep claiming we have no secrets, but you’ve been keeping a massive one all this time.”
I sighed, realizing how right she was. “Please... I have it under control. I did it to protect you and Paul.”
Silence. I couldn’t even hear her breath on the line.
“I beg you, Little German. I never wanted any of this to happen.”
“No,” she said. “You did it for selfish reasons. Not to protect us. To pretend like you had it all under control. If you had wanted to do the right thing, you would’ve asked for help.” She hung up.
I jumped up and paced around the room again, debating what to do. I had recklessly squandered two thousand bucks just because I couldn’t keep my addiction under control. The pile of money I owed them was too much now... Too much for any seventeen-year-old to handle. Emily was right...
I ran my hands over my face. I had no other choice. I couldn’t act like a grownup if I didn’t start taking responsibility.
Climbing the stairs, I found Dad slouched on the couch, sandwich in hand.
“I told them you were sleeping, but wow, that Natalia girl has fire.” He laughed and took a bite. “I made you a sandwich too if you’re hungry.”
“Dad...” I settled into an armchair near the couch. This was my last resort. I couldn’t make amends on my own if the people I loved were in danger. “I need your help.”