Page 57 of Liar

I smile. “It’s one of my favorite subjects. I’ll catch you up if you need it.”

Aiko snorts. “You don’t have to forgive me so easily.”

I blow out a breath as I finish what I need to do in the stall, and we trudge out of the bathroom, the weight on both our shoulders curving our spines. “Save that thought for after you hear what I have to say. Let’s go to our favorite coffee shop in town.”

* * *

Aiko side-eyes my caramel macchiato with extra whip as she nurses her steaming cup of milk-only coffee. Because it’s the middle of a school day, we’ve scored a window seat that looks out into Main Street, where some stores and boutiques have kept their Christmas lights. With the light snowfall, it’s picturesque and quaint, like Scrooge is going to lumber out of his countinghouse any moment to declare the existence of Christmas spirit.

It would all be true if I didn’t know what Raven’s Bluff harbors under its purity.

“You already look so sad, and you haven’t said a word to me,” Aiko says, redirecting my focus.

“I was just star-gazing. It’s beautiful out there.”

Aiko stares out the window. “Very true. When Dad said we were moving here, I thought I was going to die alone in a small town with no Starbucks to save me.”

I chuckle. “Me, too.”

“Gosh, we’ve come a long way from our respective urban lives.”

“Yeah.” I warm my hands on my hot cup. Aiko drove us, but her Bug was acting up and only managed to cough up spurts of heat. She has enough money to replace it, but there’s no substituting loyalty and love, and she admitted to me on the drive that it was her mother’s car. One of the last treasures she has left of her.

“Okay, so what did you want to tell me off school property?” she asks.

I look up from the mesmerizing ribbons of whipped cream on my coffee. “I don’t know where to start.”

Aiko perches her elbows on the table. “Just dive in. I promise I won’t yell at you and storm out … like last time.”

She’s talking about our argument over the necklace. The one Savannah’s wearing as we speak. The ‘Forever You’ pendant from Damion.

My coffee doesn’t look so sweet anymore. I push it away.

“You say that now, but wait until I’m finished.” I gulp down a lump of saliva, at first choosing to stare out at the townscape, but no. Aiko deserves my full attention when I tell her who Savannah truly is.

I start with, “I’m hoping to God you believe me…”

Aiko nods, her eyes bright, eager, and sincere. “I’m here for you. For good. I promise.”

I take her for her word, regardless of whether she’ll keep it. The old Ember reaches up, pressing against the cage of my heart, ready to escape and reclaim her turf. Aiko offers friendship, safety, and love. I can’t help but be drawn to it, even if I end up ruining it again.

So at the risk of everything, I tell it all to her.

Chapter 19

Ember

I’m worried Aiko’s about to go blind. She refuses to blink.

My coffee sits cold in front of me, the whipped cream melted into a white glob. “…which is how I ended up in Winthorpe’s foyer this morning, too stunned to fight Thorne off.”

Aiko’s mouth has stayed in a frozen ‘O’ throughout my entire confession. It started with being held with Savannah in the Noble’s crypt, then Zeke’s battery, and finished with the graveyard with Savannah earlier today.

“Aiko? Say something.” I rip shreds of a paper napkin, the pieces scattering our tabletop like snowflakes, while I wait for her to speak. Or move.

Aiko’s shoulders heave as she sucks in a breath. Something comes with it because she sputters and coughs, her eyelids fluttering.

“Shit—I’m okay,” she says in a tight voice, covering her mouth with her hand. “My mouth is unused to having no saliva for so long.”