I Ran Before He Could Lie

They were swarmed.

Mia clung to Hugh's side, giggling, eyes crinkled, totally glued to him.

And Hugh? Smiling like a goon, head tilted like she was telling him the secrets of life. That look? Straight out of some cheesy drama where the guy's obviously whipped.

I ducked back.

Too slow.

Mia's snake eyes caught mine.

She leaned in, whispered something, and boom—Hugh's whole face shifted. Storm cloud mode.

He stalked over.

"Didn't I tell Patrick to take you home?" Voice tight. Jaw tighter. "Why are you wandering around alone?"

Couldn't tell if he was mad because I was "unsafe" or because I crashed his Mia-fest.

I stared down at my blistered heels.

"I wasn't looking for you. Just passing through. I'll leave."

Turned to go.

He grabbed my wrist.

Cue the dramatic sigh as he pulled me toward the bar. "I'm right here—where else would you go? You came out 'cause I didn't come home, right? It's not safe for you to be alone. Don't do this again."

I wanted to say something. Set him straight. But he'd already decided the whole story in his head.

So I bit my lip. Said nothing. What was the point?

The bar reeked—smoke, booze, noise cranked to full blast.

Random strangers lounged on couches, laughing.

One guy clocked Hugh dragging me in. "Who's the cutie? Haven't seen her before."

Hugh's grip tightened. "She's a neighbor. Grew up with me. Bit slow—kind of a fool. Don't mind her."

I snapped my head up.

Seriously?

Wouldn't even look at me. Like saying my name might mess up his image.

So yeah, I dropped my gaze again.

Old story. Every event, every intro. You'd think I'd be numb by now.

I wasn't.

Not tonight.

Some fat guy laughed, eyes crawling all over me. "What a waste. Pretty face, empty upstairs."

Mia smirked, eyes flicking over me with disdain. Then she tugged Hugh's sleeve. "Hugh, it's our turn. Come on."

"Stay here, Wenna. I'll take you home later," Hugh said, letting go of my hand.

He sat down beside her. Their shoulders touched.

The guy leered again. "Hey, little fool, don't just stand there. Sit with me, yeah?"

I dodged his grab and slid into a far-off corner seat.

He shot me one last look, then dropped it.

Everyone else? Too busy screaming over truth or dare, throwing shots, dying of laughter.

Not one glanced my way.

I eyed the rainbow-colored drinks on the table. Grabbed one. Chugged.

Instant regret.

It burned going down, like my chest caught fire from the inside.

I doubled over, coughing.

Hugh? Oblivious.

The guy who used to hover like I'd break? Gone.

Am I shocked?

Nah.

With Mia in the room, I might as well not exist.

Thought about dipping.

But my body felt like a sandbag. Starving. Wrecked.

Maybe just sit for a sec—

Then she spoke. That sugary, fake-soft voice—