Free Perfect Lie by Teresa Mummert Page A

there for me when I needed someone.”
    “And now? You don’t need anyone? So…what? You just cast them aside?”
    “I didn’t say that.” Just like that, the serious conversation had ended, and the flirty mask he wore was back in place.
    “Why did you leave California?” I took another drag, but he grabbed the cigarette as it was at my lips.
    “You ask a lot of questions. That’s how I know you aren’t like her. Do you think Trish gives a shit about where I came from?”
    “Whatever. It’s impossible to have a normal conversation with anyone here.” I was exasperated. I moved toward the window, but he stepped to the side to block it.
    I groaned but looked at him, waiting for a sarcastic retort. “You look nice,” he said. I narrowed my eyes, but the punch line didn’t come. Instead he leaned closer, his smoky mint breath on my cheek. “You looked just as sexy in those jeans.”
    My eyes met his, and I thought I was hallucinating, but his face was serious, and I immediately averted my eyes to the window. I pushed around him, and he moved out of my way as I slid it back open. As I climbed through, I couldn’t resist throwing a jab at him. “Just not good enough to kiss, right?” I slid the window closed behind me before he could respond.
    Trish was ready to go and waiting in the living room for us. A few minutes after I came in, Abel followed, and the popular‐asshole persona was firmly in place.
    “Let’s go party,” he called out, and his friends cheered and shoved each other toward the front door. I rolled my eyes but followed behind because that was what I did. I was always the extra wheel.
    We made our way downstairs, and out front was a sleek, black Barracuda. Classic cars had a spot in my heart because that was all Brock ever talked about getting.
    “We’ll take my car,” Abel said, as he pulled open his door.
    “Much better than that rusty old truck,” I said under my breath.
    “There you go. Now you sound
just
like her,” Abel replied just as quietly.
    Trish made her way to the passenger side and slid into the seat. I waited for the other guys to climb into the back from the driver’s side. As I prepared to follow, Abel slid the seat back and motioned for me to sit in the center of the front bench seat. “I can’t let you sit back there with those fucking pervs. Your boyfriend would kill me.”
    I ignored his comment about Brock and slid across next to Trish. She looked less than pleased that she wouldn’t be cuddling against Abel. I was the last person she should direct her frustration at. I didn’t want to sit next to Abel any more than she didn’t want me to, and it wasn’t my fault she ran with such a shady group.
    Trish leaned around me to look at him as we pulled into traffic. “You think you could hook us up before we get there?”
    I glanced at Abel, who was working his jaw as he stared ahead at the road. “Glove box.” He took a quick glance at me, and I looked at the glove box as Trish opened it and pulled out a bottle of pills. I looked back at Abel, who gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
    “Liar, liar,” I said under my breath. I saw his head turn fraction of an inch toward me before he reached out to turn up the stereo and drown out any talk with classic rock music.
    Trish pulled money from her wristlet and held it out to me. I grabbed it angrily and held it out to Abel. His fingers wrapped around mine and squeezed.
    “It’s on the house,” he said, and his fingers slid from mine, leaving me holding the cash as Trish handed out pills to the guys in the backseat.
    “Tonight is going to be epic, boys.” She laughed as she popped a pill into her mouth and held one out for me. “Don’t be such a baby.”
    I felt Abel’s gaze burn my skin, and I held out my palm. He thought he was so smart. Everything he said was a lie, and he wanted to call me out? I popped the small pill into my mouth and swallowed. Trish let out a gleeful