Twisted Lies by Nora Cobb
Chapter 40
Astrid
Out of everything that has happened in the last twenty-four hours, I still can’t get over what I saw at the Pit. Every bit of it keeps flashing through my mind while I try to concentrate on Getz during economics class. I stare at the whiteboard and see an image of Bryce and Pierce staring down at those oily women strutting around almost naked in the ring. Bryce definitely saw me. He started for the stairs, but I didn’t wait for him. After the way he treated me? The cash and seeing him there only confirmed what Charlotte said. He only wants me for sex.
As soon as I walk into Harmon’s class, she tells me that I’m immediately wanted in Rawlins’ office. My ass didn’t even make it into the chair. My eyes stay straight ahead as I stride out the building and follow the path to Foxworth House.
“Astrid, you’ve been avoiding me.” Bryce picks up his pace until he’s walking alongside me. He’s wearing a thick cable turtleneck under his school blazer that makes him look rough like a Monarch boy, and he needs a shave. A thrill shoots through me, ignoring the fact that I fucking hate him.
“What do you want?” I snarl.
“A smile,” he replies, “You’re prettier when you smile.”
I want to strike him so hard that it will make his head fly off and roll down the path. “Go fuck off, or go fuck one of those girls,” I hiss.
“Are you jealous, Astrid?” He’s actually grinning. “What’s that saying about the goose and the gander?” He pretends to think. “You can sample all the goods, but I can’t even look? How is that fair, Ms. Howland?”
Speechless, I stare into his eyes as his mouth beams in a wide smile. There is no way he could have known my secret except for the list.
“You broke into my room.” I jab my fingernail into his chest. “You did it.” The blood rushes to my head, and I can hear nothing but my heart beating wildly. I throw both my hands up and push Bryce off balance.
He stumbles back, his face hardening as he keeps from hitting the ground. “I didn’t break into your room!” he shouts, “What are you even talking about?”
“You know. And you wouldn’t tell me the truth anyway.” My voice cracks. “You’re a liar anyway. There are four of you, and not one of you had the balls to tell me about the Pit!” I screech like a banshee. “Who told you?”
On guard, Bryce watches me closely, confused by my over-the-top reaction. “What’s wrong with you?” he asks, “Are you really that jealous over nothing? I didn’t do anything, Astrid. With anybody.”
His look of concern is my undoing as Bryce places a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry,” he says, “I’m sorry I upset you. I went too far.”
I shake his hand off me and rub a tear off my face with my coat sleeve. “Who told you my name?” I ask, swallowing my emotions.
Bryce doesn’t answer. Instead, he looks past me, and I follow his gaze. Dr. Rawlins stands in the doorway of Foxworth House. She steps aside, indicating that I should come to her. I pull myself together fast. Tears to Dr. Rawlins are like blood to a shark. She’ll pounce on me if she sees proof of my vulnerability. My feet feel like dead weight as I move toward the open door.
Quietly, Bryce follows alongside me, and Dr. Rawlins frowns at the two of us as we stand in front of her. I walk into the building, expecting her to stop Bryce, but he continues to follow us into her office.
Unimpressed, Dr. Rawlins watches him sit down in one of the high-back chairs as I sit down in the other. “Bryce, may I assist you?”
He takes her off-putting tone in stride. “Astrid has had a rough weekend, and I thought I might be a good friend and hold her hand.”
Dr. Rawlins and I share a questioning look. She’d like to grill me senseless but can’t. She won’t dare verbally thrash me while Bryce is sitting there watching her. “Your concern for your fellow classmate is commendable,” she says rigidly, “but perhaps you will wait in the outer office while I speak privately to Astrid.”
She’s asking his permission?
“No.” Bryce shakes his head. “I’ll stay right here. It’s okay to talk in front of me. Astrid and I share all the time about our interesting lives.”
At first, I want to wrap my arms around Bryce tightly and thank him for backing me. Dr. Rawlins would never dare say all the things that she wants to with Bryce as my witness. But then a thought flashes into my mind. What if he’s here to keep me from talking about the Pit? I shift my body in the chair so I’m farther from him.
“Fine,” Dr. Rawlins accepts Bryce’s presence with a raised brow. “Astrid, I have reasons to be concerned. Your roommate Roni Griffin has told her guidance counselor that there was an intruder in your room last night while you were both sleeping in your beds.”
Bryce ditches his above-us-all routine as he slides his body into an upright position. Bryce doesn’t conceal his concern as his hand reaches toward me, but quickly I pull farther away. He rests his hand on the armrest while I lean to the far left.
Dr. Rawlins looks at his hand, and a thin smirk plays on her lips. I told her the truth all along. I wasn’t the one chasing after him.
She continues. “A report ought to be filed, but your roommate says you’re reluctant.”
I could beat Roni up and down the campus path with my fists. That bitch told me she would keep her mouth shut. And I meant about everything. What am I supposed to say now? If I tell the truth, I’ll have to admit that Roni wasn’t in our room during curfew. The person I saw was in Roni’s bed. I know I saw someone. That huge lump under her comforter wasn’t my imagination.
I shake my head as if to clear my mixed-up thoughts. “I shouldn’t have said anything because I probably dreamt it.”
Bryce manages to take my hand in his. “Dr. Rawlins, I snuck into Astrid’s room. I wanted to have something of hers as a remembrance.”
Dr. Rawlins rolls her eyes at his lameness. She either doesn’t believe him or doesn’t care. Her gaze keeps going to our hands—his gripping mine. His thumb strokes my skin.
Besides, I know Bryce is lying because he’s trying too hard not to smirk. She’ll blame me again, and I don’t want to hear it. “Is that all?” I ask, yanking my hand out of his. “May I leave now?”
Rawlins casts a laser glare at Bryce that should’ve split his hard head. She’s not done but won’t dare say what she wants to with him smugly sitting in that chair.
I frown at Bryce, sending him waves of resentment. “Maybe you should go, so I can speak with Dr. Rawlins in private.”
Bryce’s expression shifts from smug to insulted as he uncrosses his legs and prepares to stand. He hesitates, looking at Rawlins, and then places his hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’ll be outside the door, Astrid, if you need me.”
Rawlins is pissed as she crosses her arms and doesn’t speak until Bryce shuts the door behind him. She sits down at her antique desk with the high-tech laptop and refuses to look at me. What the fuck does Rawlins know? So much of my life is fucked up that I have no idea why she’s annoyed now.
“Astrid, do you have a clue as to why I want to talk to you?” Her voice sounds like silk, but that will change shortly.
Blankly, I stare and refuse to crack under her unblinking gaze. Rawlins doesn’t get it. I’d rather look at her all day than confess to doing anything wrong at Stonehaven. In Weymouth, I’d flip my middle finger at authority and sashay away, but at Stonehaven, I wouldn’t dare. Dr. Rawlins may act like a lady, but the witch will beat my ass with her broom and not give a shit about her manicure.
Eventually, Rawlins gives up first. “I’m disappointed with you, Astrid.”
“You and everyone else,” I mutter.
Her lips flatten into a scowl, not pleased with my comment. “We had a discussion together with your father,” she continues. “A rather serious request was placed upon you not to reveal his identity. But it has come to my attention that your father’s identity is no longer a secret. Do you care to explain?”
I’m on my feet. “Seriously? He knocks my mom up and leaves us to fend for ourselves in a criminally infested town, but somehow his bad behavior is forgivable? Somehow I’m the one who’s the evil.”
Rawlins waves her hand as if to dismiss my mood. “Don’t be so melodramatic.”
“Then why am I here?” I walk to the window behind her desk and tap on the glass as she warily watches me. “And why is it your business anyway? I’ve never understood why you always seem to be in my family’s business. Why are you so interested in us?”
“Go sit down, Astrid.”
Her calm response dampens my heated tirade as I head back to my chair. I plop down and fold my arms, refusing to look at her, or I might scream. Rawlins shouldn’t be chewing on me, and she knows it.
“You were told not to tell for a very good reason.” Rawlins stands and sits down beside me in the other chair. Her hand casually dangles over the armrest, but she doesn’t dare touch me. “Several boys have taken an interest in you since you arrived. And they have become a dangerous distraction to you and themselves. Do you know what will happen now that the student body knows your father is Dr. Elliot Howland?”
I don’t answer her until she places her hand on my arm and applies pressure with her fingernails. I pull away, shaking my head obediently.
When Rawlins grins, it tilts her lips into a sneer. “It’s open season on you, Astrid Howland. Every boy that hasn’t hooked up with a wealthy fiancée will be after you by sunset. You think three is too much to handle?” She laughs as my wide eyes stare at her. How does she know about the boys? “That number’s about to pop off the scale,” she continues, “Boys who have no talent or drive, who need a trust fund to get through life, are going to be swarming around you. Your friends will slowly disappear and be replaced with greedy sycophants who will yes you to ruin while they spend your daddy’s money.” Rawlins stands and strolls back to her desk, ignoring my distress. “Your father was trying to protect you, Astrid, but for whatever reason, you told his secret.”
I raise my voice over hers. “I didn’t tell.”
Rawlins smiles in disbelief and then shakes her head as she sits down. “Did you do it to steal Bryce Shelton away from your sister?”
“No.” I stand up, pushing the chair away and almost tipping it over. I look around the room, clenching my fist and wanting something to hurl at her stuck-up head. My gaze lands on a painted blue and white vase positioned daintily on a pedestal by the wall between two bookcases. A spotlight shines on its smooth surface, showing off the intricate details of a country landscape.
“Don’t you dare,” she whispers.
I spin around to face her again. “Charlotte told me to sleep with Bryce!” I shout, “She wanted Bryce to get it out of his system before they married. And I did it. Not because of her, but because I liked him. Or I did at the time. And it was probably my only chance to be with someone like that.” I slump back down in the chair, leaning my head against the upholstered curve. “It was special that night, except the end,” my voice softens, “You know what he did? He paid me, Dr. Rawlins. An envelope of cash, because that’s all I am to him: a transaction. And you think they haven’t already used me.”
I put my face in my hands and inhale the tears. My body rocks back and forth as I press my fingertips into my temples to stop the pounding. I feel a hand on my shoulder and glance up. Dr. Rawlins isn’t mocking me now. She rubs my shoulder gently before leaning down and pulling me into a hug. I cry on her shoulder like a stupid baby, and though I need this, I know I’ll hate her later for seeing me this way.
“It’s okay, Astrid,” she says, “I meant to frighten you, but I went too far.” She lets me go and sits beside me again. “When I was a student here, I wasn’t rich or poor. I was middle class, which is the bottom. Rich people have money, and poor people have personality, and both have mystique. But middle-class people are forgettable—neither rich nor interesting. I had to learn a lot of things on my own. A lot of things I wish I could forget.” She takes her thumb and swipes it across my cheek, wiping a tear away. “It’s going to be hard, Astrid. Choose the boy that can protect you from the rest.”
“I can protect myself,” I reply, sniffing.
Rawlins stares at me for a moment, and the sternness returns in a blink. “I’m not talking about kicking ass across the campus,” she replies, “Find a boy that will watch out for both your interests. Even if that boy is Bryce Shelton.”
I look at her like she’s crazy. “He paid me like a whore.”
She shakes her head. “Rich men are rich because they are cheap. He was testing your boundaries. Did you give him back his money?”
I shake my head.
She nods, looking down her nose at me. “Good, never give back anything. But next time, ask for diamonds. It’s classier.”
The door opens before I can respond, and Bryce walks into the room, shutting the door behind him as if he had been invited back in. Rawlins stares at him in amazement, but the lines in the corners of her mouth start to appear as she tightens her jaw.
“Someone did break into her room,” he says, “they put her up to it.”
Dr. Rawlins lowers her eyes and folds her hands on her desk. For a minute, she has to think of how to respond to this revelation. She’s probably never had to deal with this shitstorm before, but maybe she has. I can’t be the only illegitimate kid attending Stonehaven.
“Astrid, the truth is more complicated than it appears,” she replies coolly. “I would like you to file a report about the break-in, and we will be increasing security in the dorms.”
My eyes widen. Added security means curfew will be enforced. “That’s not necessary, Dr. Rawlins,” I reply, “It was a prank. They have a secret club,” I reply, “the girls in the dorm. It’s a task to sneak a boy into your room. I needed to do it, so I lied.”
“So, you both made this up,” she replies.
I’ll never get a break with this woman, so I might as well fling myself into the depths. “Yes, it was a practical joke, and Roni got freaked.”
Rawlins rolls her eyes at Bryce but digs her fangs into me. “Next time something happens and your name is attached to it,” she says, “you better hope I don’t kick you out of this school. Your father won’t be able to talk me out of it. I’m watching you, Astrid. So don’t…mess up.”
For a brief second, I thought she was going to say fuck. Dr. Rawlins’ lips tremble as she walks briskly to her office door and flings it opens. “Out—the two of you. Go directly to class.”
Bryce waits for me to stand, and he tries to take my hand. I pull it away, but he tries again as we hurry out of the office, past Rawlins’ livid glare. It becomes a game, him grabbing my hand and me yanking it away as we walk down the hallway. He won’t make me smile.
Once outside, I hurry down the steps toward the path, but Bryce grabs hold of my waist and pulls me against him. We struggle on the path into Foxworth House, and I wonder if Dr. Rawlins is watching from the window as his lips crash against mine.
“Get off of me.” I slam my fists into his chest. “Leave me alone.” I hurry away without running.
“I can’t leave the daughter of Dr. Elliot Howland alone.” Bryce grabs my hand, and I can’t get it out of his tight grip. “You held out on me, Astrid.”
He levels his gaze, and I’m caught again. If he was a fucked-up incel or some asshole with an addiction, I could harden my heart. No, I wouldn’t, not after taking care of Mom for all those hard years.
“What the fuck is going on?” I hiss. “Why am I always out of the loop?”
“Walk with me,” he says, his fingers tangling in mine, “and we’ll figure your life out.”
Class is in session, and the entire campus belongs to us as we walk across the perfect green lawn, ignoring the path. The only people that can see us walking hand in hand would be daydreaming out the window. I relax and let Bryce hold my hand though I wish it was Wyatt. He still won’t speak to me. I glance over at Bryce while he watches me, and I catch a rare look of concern. He gives my hand a gentle squeeze.
“Astrid, I do want to help,” he says, “People should not mess with you.”
I scoff. “Because I’m a Howland. Were you in my room?”
“No.” Bryce looks away. “I’m sorry about that night. I shouldn’t have done that to you. And I knew who you were before. Charlotte told me.”
Unfortunately, I believe him. “How long have you known?”
Bryce sighs, holding firmly to my hand. “Since her mother’s funeral. In a jealous moment, she revealed your father’s name and now regrets it. Charlotte and I have been having trouble despite our closeness. I don’t really think of her romantically anymore. Maybe because we grew up together here at Stonehaven. I had hoped to end it peacefully, but instead, Charlotte accused me of cheating. I didn’t realize how hard she had fallen for me.”
I waver on forgiveness but have to know more. “I was really hurt that night,” I tell him, “And what is going on at the Pit?”
“That was Pierce’s idea,” he replies, “The problem with gambling as a business is sometimes people don’t pay their losses. Pierce hit on the idea of micro-transactions. A person that owes several grand will still spend a few dollars for some other entertainment.”
“It isn’t right,” I whisper.
“Astrid, it isn’t what it appears.” Bryce stops walking and holds onto my hand. “There’s a bigger plan.”
I lower my head. “That you won’t tell me.”
“Do you tell me everything?” he asks coolly.
I lift my chin. “I would if I trusted you.”
Bryce changes the subject. “Do you know who was in your room Saturday night?”
“I’m pretty sure it was Justin,” I reply, “I’m missing a piece of paper.”
Bryce’s lips curl slightly. “I’ll speak to him and find out. Was anything else taken?”
My gaze locks with his. “I had a piece of paper, and I can’t find it.”
“That’s it?” he persists.
“Yes, that’s it.”
Bryce steps closer until he’s less than an inch in my space. His eyes soften as he looks into mine, and I feel that damn tingle again. “I’ll stop being a jerk. I’m sorry about the Pit, but that one is out of my hands. I won’t go there again if you don’t want me to. Not on those nights.”
“You can go wherever you want,” I keep the tone out of my voice. “I have no claim on you.”
“You could,” he says softly. His lips brush my forehead. “We could be a couple.”
“No, you hurt me, Bryce,” I reply harshly, “And what about Charlotte?”
“What about you?” he asks, “Do you think so little of us that you don’t even want to try?”
My face heats up, and when I pull away, he lets my hand go. I shake my head as a short laugh of disbelief escapes me. “You’re the perfect boy who owns the world. Good-looking, rich, smart; everything is going for you. You’re the prince in every fantasy. And you have the goods to back it up. I’d be insane not to want you. But realistically, I won’t be able to keep you.” I smile softly. “See, I can be honest.”
Bryce leans toward me, cupping his hand on my cheek. He closes his eyes as he kisses me sweet and gentle, nothing like that night we spent together. I pull back and stare into his eyes, wondering if he heard what was spoken through Dr. Rawlins’ door.
“Astrid, you’re the one I want,” he says, “I was nervous that night about the hold you have on me. I acted like an asshole to keep control,” he scoffs. “And you’re not even trying to own me. I can picture us as equals. I could be what I want to be if I had you. Don’t undermine yourself. As far as Stonehaven cares, any daughter of Dr. Howland is right for me.”
I step back and almost trip on the edge of the path. We’ve ended up outside the academic buildings. “I’m thoroughly confused, Bryce. I don’t know what to do.”
“That means it’s time for another date.” Bryce smiles as he walks away down the path to his building. “I’ll convince you that I’m your best pick.”
I grin softly as he turns and walks off. His blond hair gleams in the bright sun as he shoves his hands into his pockets. If I could market that confidence, we would have an empire. Now that I know I could have Bryce, should I take him?
Something flashes in my peripheral view, and I glance up at a classroom window. My gaze catches on someone looking out a second-story window. Charlotte’s gaze narrows as her mouth screws up into a scowl, and then she looks away.
