All the Pretty Lies Read online

His heated eyes roam my face, his expression hard and unwavering.

  “Then don’t.”

  “Don’t?” He quirks a brow.

  “Don’t stop kissing me.” My voice is breathy.

  “Fuck, P.” He audibly groans. “Are you trying to kill me?”

  I can’t help the smile that slides across my mouth. I knew it. I knew he could feel it too. And with the way he’s looking at me right now, he couldn’t deny it if he tried.

  My chest swells, my heart feeling like it’s seconds away from beating through my ribcage.

  “Maybe.” I drag my bottom lip through my teeth innocently.

  He watches the movement with a heated intensity.

  “Fuck me,” he murmurs, lowering his mouth back to mine.

  He kisses me again. Once, then twice, before his entire body seems to disappear. The cool night air whips around me and my eyes pop open to see Callum has stepped back, putting a good two feet of distance between us.

  “Go inside, Poppy,” he tells me sternly.

  I want to disobey. I want to insist he come inside with me. I want to wrap my arms around his neck and never let him go, but knowing I can’t, that I shouldn’t, I turn and force my feet to carry me through the front door.

  When I turn around, Callum is already off the porch and crossing my lawn into his. Disappointment and excitement meld together in an unsettling combination that makes it feel difficult to pull in a breath.

  Closing the front door, I flip the lock before pressing my back against the frame, trying to steady my breathing.

  I know we said this was fake.

  I know I should temper my expectations.

  But how do I do that when he kisses me the way he just did? When he looks at me the way he was moments ago?

  How do I convince my heart that this isn’t real?

  And how badly is it going to shatter if that turns out to be true.

  I shudder at the thought, pushing it deep into the recesses of my mind. I can’t go there. I won’t.

  Pushing away from the wall, I head upstairs and duck inside my bathroom, flipping on the shower.

  Right now I need something. Something to distract me. Something to keep me busy. Something to cool my heated skin that feels like it’s blistering from the fire Callum’s touch spread through my limbs.

  Slipping out of my dress, I step under the cool stream of water and let the pellets pepper my face.

  My mind drifts back to what transpired on the porch, realizing the magnitude of it all. Because in that moment, it was no longer a game. There wasn’t anyone to fool. No show to put on. Yet when Callum kissed me, he did so like the whole world was watching.

  That has to mean something, right?

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  POPPY

  CALLUM: Ride with me to school today?

  I stare down at the text message on my phone, unable to keep my smile contained. After Friday night, I wasn’t sure what would happen. And while I haven’t seen Callum since then, as he had plans with friends on Saturday and something with his parents on Sunday, that hasn’t stopped him from texting me several times over the course of the weekend.

  Me: I’d love to. Meet you out front in five?

  I shoot off my reply before grabbing my book bag from the floor and making my way downstairs.

  When I enter the kitchen, my mom is standing at the island drinking coffee. Given that she’s only half dressed and her hair is damp, I’d say she was in the middle of getting ready for work when she decided she was in need of a pick me up. Maybe if she knew how to come home before one in the morning, she wouldn’t need the caffeine so much.

  “Morning,” she greets me when I enter.

  “Morning.” There’s a skip in my step as I make my way toward the pantry. Rummaging inside, I settle on an oatmeal breakfast bar before grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, setting them both on the counter when my phone pings in my hand.

  Callum: See you then.

  “I see someone is happy about something.” My mom’s voice pulls my attention to her.

  I quickly lock my phone and slide it into the back pocket of my shorts.

  “Just in a good mood.” I grab my water and breakfast bar, shoving them into my book bag before sliding the strap back onto my shoulder.

  “And what’s the reason for this good mood?” She props her hip against the island and watches me curiously.

  “No reason. Just happy I guess.”

  “Who is he?”

  “What?” I choke.

  “The guy. Who is he?”

  “Oh my god, Mom. My happiness does not hinge on a guy. I’m not you.”

  My insult doesn’t seem to bother her one bit.

  “Who is he?” she repeats, seeing right through my lame attempt to deflect.

  “No one.”

  “No one,” she repeats slowly.

  “Yeah, no one.” I turn, heading for the door. “I gotta go. I’m going to be late for school.” I hesitate in the doorway. “My car will be here when you leave for work. I’m catching a ride with Callum today.” I try to keep my voice casual as I turn back toward her.

  “I didn’t realize you two were still seeing each other. Guess that explains a lot.” She lifts the coffee cup to her lips and takes a small sip.

  “We aren’t seeing each other, Mom. We’re friends.”

  “Uh huh.” A knowing smile spreads across her face. “Friends.”

  “Oh my god. Okay. I’m going now.” I spin back around, quickly exiting the house moments later.

  It’s not like I’m averse to talking to my mom about my personal life. I’m not. We may not be close, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want her to know what’s going on with me. But with the Callum situation... It’s complicated. Too complicated to try to explain to someone like Stella Harris. She’d never understand.

  I spot Callum leaning against his Jeep waiting for me as I approach. His hands are tucked in the front pockets of his faded jeans, a chunk of dark hair falling into one of his eyes. It should be illegal to look the way he does, especially since he likely just rolled out of bed and threw on some clothes, not even bothering to check himself in the mirror.

  He smiles when I come into view, and I swear my heart skips several beats at the sight.

  “Hey.” I make my way toward him, feeling oddly nervous all of a sudden.

  “Hey.” He tugs open the passenger door for me but instead of letting me climb in, he completely blocks my path.

  My entire body reacts when his hands slide down the sides of my neck before angling my face up to his.

  “I missed you.” He grins down at me.

  Fuck me. I am in so much trouble right now.

  “I missed you too,” I admit, the words falling from my lips despite my attempt to keep them to myself.

  He leans down and lays a light peck to my lips before his hold on me vanishes.

  “Guess we should probably head that way.”

  “Yeah.”

  He steps around the door, waiting for me to climb inside before closing it for me.

  He waits until we’re on the road before asking, “So, what did you do this weekend?”

  “Nothing. Which you already knew because I told you as much,” I remind him.

  “Right.” He chuckles. “So I was thinking...” he starts, but his words are cut off when his cell phone starts ringing through the speakers of his Jeep. “Shit, that’s my mom. I gotta take this.”

  “No problem.” I nod once.

  “Hey, Mom.”

  “Hi, honey.” His mom’s voice filters through the vehicle. “I know you’re on your way to school, but you ran out before I had a chance to talk to you. I just want to remind you that we have dinner tonight with the Maxwell’s, so I need you to come home straight after school.”

  “Yeah, Mom, I remember.”

  “Okay. That’s all I needed. Love you, honey.”

  “Love you too.” He clicks the red phone symbol on the steering wheel and the
call ends. “Sorry about that.”

  “That’s okay.” I knot my hands in front of myself. “Who are the Maxwell’s?”

  “A couple my mom met at some fundraiser. Her and Irene have become really good friends over the last year, and they make a point to meet for dinner every few weeks. They have a son a year younger than us, so my mom always insists that I come.”

  “Does he go to school with us?”

  “No, he goes to Hillcrest.”

  “Gotcha.” I wait for him to get back to what he was about to say before he was interrupted by his mom’s phone call, but when he doesn’t, I bring it up. “So you were saying, you were thinking about something.”

  “Right.” He blows out a breath. “It’s nothing. We can talk about it later.”

  Even though I want to push, given that we’re already pulling into the school’s parking lot, I decide now might not be the best time. It probably isn’t anything important anyway.

  Callum parks in his usual spot, front row, far left at the back of the building, turning off the engine before climbing out of the car. He waits for me to join him on the curb before taking my hand as we make our way into school.

  The first couple of days of fake dating Callum was strange. I wasn’t used to being watched. To feeling like everyone was clamoring over us to find out what was going on. But now, the newness seems to have died off, and people have accepted that we’re together and that’s that.

  Little do they know, we aren’t, nor have we ever been an actual couple. But all of that is going to change if I have anything to say about it.

  I still don’t know how I’m going to handle it. How I’m going to tell him that in the midst of him trying to help me land a different guy that my feelings changed. I’m terrified to admit it out loud, but it doesn’t change what I know in my heart.

  I don’t have to wonder how I feel about Callum Hansen anymore

  Now, I know.

  “HEY, POPPY.” ETHAN slides down into the desk next to mine, his gaze trained on me.

  “Hey.” I shift in my seat, watching him drop his books in front of him.

  “How was your weekend?”

  “It was good.”

  Normally, small talk with Ethan would be the highlight of my day but today I feel nothing. Not even a blip on the radar of excitement.

  “I heard I missed quite the show on Friday.”

  “Oh, you mean the party?” It takes me a second to catch on. So much happened on Friday. So much so that I’ve barely thought about the party. Though I’d be lying if I said I didn’t mildly obsess over how Callum reacted to seeing Chance’s hands on me. My inner cheerleader has been doing cartwheels all weekend thinking about it.

  “Yeah, seems I got there too late to witness all the drama first hand.”

  “I was wondering why I didn’t see you.” Truth be told, I didn’t think of him once while we were there.

  “Yeah, I had to work until nine. But Tripp filled me in. Sounds like stuff got crazy there for a minute.”

  “Yeah.” I blow out a breath. “It kind of did.”

  “I was surprised to hear that Callum reacted the way he did. He’s usually so chill.”

  “Really?” I angle my body toward him, suddenly much more interested in the conversation. Callum had brushed it off as a normal reaction, saying that people would have thought something was up had he not reacted the way he did.

  “Must mean things are getting serious.”

  “Is that what it means?” I ask, because I genuinely want to know if that’s what he thinks.

  “Me and Callum may not be close, but I’ve been around him long enough to know that he doesn’t usually go around throwing punches over a girl. In fact, the only other time I’ve seen him even remotely upset was over the Blake shit, and I think that had more to do with being betrayed by his friend than Annika. He must really care about you. Well, that or...” He lets the statement hang.

  “Or what?” I push, impatience seeping through my words.

  “Or he just wants you to think he’s serious.” He looks at me apologetically.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Look, normally I don’t get involved in other people’s relationships, but I like you, Poppy, and I don’t want to see you get hurt.” He takes a breath. “Friday night, Tripp and a couple of the guys were talking about the fight and someone made a comment about Callum being whipped. Tripp corrected him. Said Callum was only with you to tag your V card, then he was going to discard you like yesterday’s news.”

  I don’t know how much truth there is to what Ethan is saying, but the sting I feel is very, very real.

  Callum told Tripp I’m a virgin?

  Yeah, it’s not like it’s some big secret, but it’s also not something I go advertising all over the place. I feel violated in a weird way.

  “Wait. So Callum told Tripp...”

  “That he’s just trying to get into your pants. Apparently, he’s been playing it up like it’s all just some fucked up game.”

  My stomach twists and I feel like I might be sick, though I try to hide the reaction from Ethan.

  “Who knows.” He shrugs. “It might all be bullshit. I just wanted to give you a heads up. I’d hate to see you fall victim to Callum Hansen. Then again, you certainly wouldn’t be the first.”

  “Yeah,” I mutter, not sure how much stock I should put into this if any at all. Then again, it doesn’t stop that little voice of doubt in the back of my head from raising her voice.

  “I’m sure it’ll be fine.” He smiles. “I’m guessing you guys are going to prom together?”

  “I, um, we haven’t actually discussed it,” I admit. Then again, I know why we haven’t. Because the plan was to end things a week before prom. To end things at the end of this week...

  “Oh.”

  “I think... I mean, I think we just assumed we would go together. Since we are, um, err, together,” I stutter, having trouble placing my words.

  “Right. Yeah. That makes sense.” He pauses. “Look.” He shifts in his seat. “I’m going to be completely transparent with you here. If something happens with you and Callum and you need a date, I’d be happy to go with you.”

  Wait...what?

  “You don’t have a date for prom?”

  “No. I was waiting to ask a certain girl, but she’s dating one of my teammates.”

  I know he’s talking about me. I can tell by the way he’s looking at me.

  When did this happen?

  When did he go from barely batting an eye in my direction to suddenly wanting to take me to prom? Guess that goes to show Callum understands the male brain a hell of a lot more than I do, because what he said would happen, is exactly what is happening.

  “Just let me know, okay?”

  “Um, yeah. Okay. Thanks for the offer.”

  Before he can say more, the teacher calls the class to order.

  Even though we’re coming up on finals, and I really should be paying attention, I can’t for the life of me get my mind off of what Ethan just said.

  Is Callum using me?

  Is he playing a game inside of another game?

  Did he really believe I would sleep with him?

  Then again, don’t I want to sleep with him? I know that’s exactly what I wanted on Friday. I wanted it more than I’ve wanted anything in a long time.

  I’m lost in my thoughts the rest of class and am like a zombie making my way to my locker after the bell rings. I avoided talking to Ethan again. Honestly, looking at him only makes things worse because it’s a constant reminder of how quickly and dramatically my feelings have shifted.

  I’m swapping out books for my last class when Camila comes bouncing up next to me.

  “Hey, biotch.” She leans against the locker next to mine.

  “Hey.” I turn toward her. “Where were you at lunch?” I ask.

  “I had a makeup test to take. Stupid Mr. Peters wouldn’t let me do it any other time. Did I miss anything good?”


  “Nope. Just the usual.” I shut my locker, spinning the dial on the lock.

  “Lame.” She turns, following me up the hall. “So, are we still on for this afternoon?”

  “Huh?” I ask stupidly.

  “Um, prom dress shopping. We talked about this Saturday.”

  “Shit. Yeah. I’m sorry. I’ve been a space cadet today and totally forgot.”

  “I’ll forgive it as long as you don’t try to get out of it.”

  “No, I’m in. I’ll just need you or April to drop me at my house afterward. I rode to school with Callum today.”

  “Riding to school together now, are we?” She wiggles her eyebrows at me. “Sounds like things are heating up.”

  “Calm down, Cam. It was just a ride to school.” I brush it off with a soft laugh.

  “Hey.” She grabs my arm when we reach the end of the hallway, halting my movements. “You okay? You seem weird.”

  “Me? Yeah. I’m good. Just didn’t sleep well last night.”

  “Everything okay on the home front?”

  “As good as it can be.”

  “You sure you’re okay?” Something on my face must tell her otherwise.

  “Yeah.” I force a smile. “I’ll meet you at your car after class?”

  “Yep. Sounds good. Love you!” She spins, heading in the opposite direction that I need to go.

  “Love you!” I call after her, trying to shake off the sudden funk that has settled over me since talking to Ethan.

  I pull my cell phone out of my pocket on my way to last period, shooting a quick text to Callum to let him know I don’t need a ride home before dropping it into the front of my bag. If he responds, I don’t want to know.

  I think I need a minute to process.

  “EARTH TO POPPY. COME in, Poppy.” I look up from my Shrimp Scampi to see both April and Camila’s eyes on me from across the table.

  “Sorry, what?” I straighten my posture.

  “Geez, what is with you today? You barely spoke at the dress shop. You picked the first dress you tried on and spent the rest of the afternoon glued to your phone. Now, you’ve barely eaten any of your food and you keep looking at your plate like it did something bad to you.”