I knew I should have never trusted Mason when he said skipping just one class wouldn't matter.
Now we were at his family's estate, cooling off by the pool.
Mason closest friends were here. Rixa only had me, and honestly, that was all we ever needed.
I had tried to speak to him several times, but he was either busy getting drunk, making ridiculous loud jokes with the guys, or tucked away somewhere with Rixa. Meanwhile, I sat there, feeling the weight of the tiny secret growing inside me.
With every passing minute, I became more aware of the disaster I had created.
"Skinny dipping!" Mason's best friend, Josh, yelled before jumping into the pool with a massive splash.
Water drenched my uniform—and the poor excuse for a distraction I had insisted on bringing along: my books.
I sighed and gave up, slipping off my uniform carefully. I made sure not to expose the pregnancy test I had hidden earlier. I had forgotten exactly where I tucked it, but I stayed cautious all the same.
Thankfully, I had a simple swimsuit underneath. I always wore one when going to school. When your friends are rich, you never know when a random pool party will suddenly happen.
"Looking good, Lani," Josh teased.
I ignored him.
You know that saying—the person you crave doesn't choose you, but the one you never crave becomes obsessed with you?
That was the story of me and Josh.
For as long as I could remember, Josh had always had a crush on me. And to be fair, he was handsome. The safe type. The kind of guy who would choose you over and over again.
But my heart had already chosen Mason.
And it was far too late to pretend otherwise.
Here's the complicated part: Josh was Mason's best friend—and his cousin.
And he knew about the secret affair between me and Mason.
He never told anyone. He never judged me either. But that didn't stop him from flirting with me whenever he could.
Still, I could see the anger in his eyes whenever he knew I had been with Mason.
Right now, though, he was the only person who might help me get Mason alone.
I slipped into the water, swimming slowly until I reached him.
Blond hair. Blue eyes. A wide grin stretching across his face.
"I need to talk to Mason," I said quietly. "I need your help."
His smile disappeared instantly.
Without a word, he started swimming away.
I followed him.
"Josh, this is important."
I reached out and grabbed his arm in the water.
"If it's important, go talk to him yourself," he snapped. "Oh wait—you can't. Because he's busy fucking Rixa… who happens to be your best friend."
The words stung.
And the worst part?
I deserved them.
I let him swim away and climbed out of the pool, walking toward the house. I made sure he saw the look on my face when his words hit their mark.
Josh hated being the reason I was upset.
Right on cue, I heard him shout behind me.
"Lani, I'm sorry! Wait!"
But I kept walking toward the kitchen.
"Yeah… I understand. I deserve everything happening to me right now," I said quietly, taking a sip of plain juice.
Until I knew what Mason thought about our child, I wasn't touching alcohol.
"No, you don't," Josh said immediately. "You don't deserve to be treated like this. Especially not by him. He doesn't deserve you. Can't you see that?"
"And who deserves me? You?" I mocked, raising an eyebrow.
He scoffed.
"Yeah. Yeah, I do," he said, stepping closer. "I could treat you better than he ever could."
His voice softened.
"I love you. He doesn't."
The last words came out as a whisper.
I froze.
Josh had never said the L-word before. Sure, I knew he liked me. He was always there whenever I needed him, always hovering nearby. But I had always told myself it was just a crush… or maybe his way of trying to get into my pants.
But love?
"Josh… you can't love me."
"Why?" he demanded. "Why not? Why does he get to have you while I can't?"
His voice rose with frustration.
"He doesn't even want you, Lani. He's using you. I wish you could see that he will never pick you over her. You're just a plaything to him."
Smack.
My hand moved before my brain could catch up.
The sound echoed across the kitchen as my palm connected with his cheek.
A stunned gasp came from the doorway.
Rixa.
And behind her stood a very confused Mason.
Josh looked at me, then at Mason.
Without another word, he stormed out of the kitchen.
Rixa rushed toward me instantly.
"Lani! Are you okay?" she asked, grabbing my shoulders. "What happened? What did he say?"
Tears were already streaming down my face. She hugged me tightly while I stared past her… straight at Mason.
Of course he knew.
Josh could only have said one thing to hurt me that badly.
And the worst part?
Deep down, I knew it was true.
Mason didn't care about me. He never had. I was just convenient to him… and I had betrayed my best friend for it.
There was no point telling him about the baby.
I was done with all of it.
I pulled away from Rixa, giving Mason one last look.
"I have to go."
I needed to apologize to Josh.
I found him at the bar outside, downing whiskey straight from the bottle.
I dropped my wet uniform and books on the counter as I approached him.
"I'm sorry, Josh," I said breathlessly.
He didn't respond.
"Josh."
I reached for him, but he pushed my hand away.
My bag slipped from my shoulder and hit the floor, spilling everything inside.
Including my secret.
The pregnancy test rolled across the tiles.
Josh's eyes landed on it instantly.
A frown creased his face as realization slowly dawned.
He picked it up before I could react.
"What the fuck, Lani?"
"Shhh! Stop—give it back!" I whispered frantically.
His eyes locked onto mine.
"He's the father?"
My silence answered the question.
"Are you fucking stupid?"
"I know, I know," I cried. "I messed up. I'm scared, Josh. I don't know how to tell him."
"What are you doing to her, Josh?" Rixa's voice suddenly rang out behind us.
Panic shot through me.
Josh quickly slipped the pregnancy test into his pocket.
He hid my secret.
And for the first time, I looked at him differently.
"Its none of your business," he snapped at her.
"What the hell, man?" Mason said, stepping forward.
He cupped my face gently, and it only made the tears fall harder.
Rixa handed him a towel, and he wiped my cheeks like he actually cared.
"Take her inside, babe," he said to Rixa. "Make sure she's okay. I want to have a word with Josh."
Josh scoffed, throwing me a knowing look.
But I had already betrayed myself.
I let Mason lead me inside while Josh stayed behind arguing with Rixa.
Part of me was terrified he might reveal my secret.
But another part of me had to trust the love he said he had for me.