urn. She wasn't alone. She had gathered her friends, and t

oice dripping with false cheerfulness, "we should

it. Her eyes were fixed on Alaina

ch twisted. "I

ook, a subtle, reassuring glance that told her to trust him. Left with no

flair, she gave it a spin. Alaina watched it whirl, a dizzying vortex of green glass and gold foil

ad across Cori's face.

blic humiliation. Truth was a minefield. S

rial hush that was somehow louder than a shout. "Perfec

like a grenade in th

l waiting, hungry for the drama, expecting her to say Derrick's name. They wanted to see the scanda

he felt like she was standing on a clif

he didn't deserve. It would humiliate him, and even now, after he had shattered her hea

uld she say? Th

n. He was watching her, his expression unreadable, his posture relaxed

n her mind. It was insane. It was

her chin and met Cori's venomous stare head-on. Her voice was cle

ke," she announc

hat followed

is was not in their script. They had come for a tragedy about forbidden love fo

She risked a glance at Julian, her stomach clenching in terror. This was it. He wou

she saw it-the muscle in his jaw tha

the table. He gently tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, his fingers bru

lding a meaning she couldn't decipher. A sl

w, intimate murmur meant for ev

ds were

eny it. He

red. Her perfectly constructed plan had just b

he was doing this, playing along with her insane, last-ditch lie.

led her to her feet. "The game's over," he announ

y walked through the gawking crowd, his expression remained smooth and unread