L

ing the look of pure, startled shock on Miranda's

uch a thing to your best friend? What is wrong with yo

d with fake tears. In the next breath, she buried her face against his

simple

a sneer. The sheer audacity o

ut her face against the

ojecting it so the surrounding gu

going on here that I'

, entitled sisters and his overbearing mother. The air under the canopy grew thick

look guilty. He looked thou

you this instant! Since when did y

ht in a visible tug-of-war between his grandfat

kept cracking the remains o

had given up my lif

his grandfather for the first time, all for the wom

g into my tone as I fought back the tears threatening to spill.

. "You think you can come here and cause a scene? Father, can'

errupted, his voice like gravel. He stared at his grandson, who w

k his head quickly. He pushed Miranda away-gently, but with enoug

ung an arm around my waist, pulling me close in a w

m just unhappy that she would insult her best friend this w

uldn't bring myself to lie to the old man. Not today. Instead, I sim

ramps. O

ed to shrug off Shawn's filthy arm, especially when he leane

e. I can't wait to strip you i

at used to make me shiver with lo

ly, his tension easing as he began to open the gift I'd brought. But that smile wa

er eyes flashing with a s

rned to lead. He didn't even wait for me to speak before

you? Too bad for you... she alread

nking as I looked at t

tearing up again, her shoulde

n dry? I wondered, disgusted

I shouldn't have...

her, my dear," Lin

nto slits. "You shouldn't have what?" I

her head frantically and dissolved into fresh, loud sobs. I w

ow dare you bring a fake gift to Grandpa? There is only one of these in the entire

dpa Max, my voice steady. "Is your friend h

s. After all, in all the years he knew me,

yone could move, Arthur-the owner of Beckett

ng it in his palm for a long, silent moment. He pulled a jeweler's loupe

ece I personally engraved." He then glanced at Miranda's gif

wave. Even Shawn stared at Miranda, his mouth slightly a

Miranda stammered, her voice

her. "Give up the charade, M

or help, but Grandpa Max had seen enou

r out o

en, burning urge to speak to her myself, to see the

the canopy toward the back of the estate, knowing her

ing pool, the water dark and still under the

word of my victory out, the wo

f the night only breaking when she started screaming for help, th

ward the water like he had been standi

omach, if she had planned this entire thing, if m

s quick, and when she finally gasped for breath after h

ard I knew it would le

his eyes wild with a terrifying, unhinged rage. "

absurd I actu

or a fact that M

ing my head at him as the moonlight caught the tears I re

sh her?" Shawn's mouth worked in silent anger,

nk to defend myself, he

p end. Knowing I couldn't swim. Knowing about the

came up for air once, screaming for help, my

he lifted Miranda into his arms and walked away tow

to leave me