Page 1 of Broken Lies
Chapter One
RILEY
Groaning,I slam my laptop closed.
Finals week is kicking my ass, and I’m beyond exhausted. Thankfully, I only have one exam left, and it cannot come soon enough. Then I’ll officially be done with my junior year of college.
My dream of becoming a corporate badass who wears power suits and Louboutin heels is so close I can almost taste it.
I rub my eyes. “I think I’ve drunk so much coffee that I’m officially immune to caffeine.”
They sting from staring at a screen for most of the day, but I’m nowhere close to finishing reading through my Economic Trends notes.
Lucy’s lying on her spot on the couch, belly down, ankles crossed behind her, chewing on a pen as she flicks through her textbook. “Want me to brew a fresh pot anyway?”
We chose to boycott the main library today and study at her apartment instead. There’s something about being surrounded by stressed students that makes me so much less productive. Plus, the coffee is ridiculously overpriced, considering it’s basically dirty water.
I glance around at my open textbooks. “No, I think I’m going to head home. I’ve hit my limit for the day.”
She sighs as she closes her textbook. “Me too. I was planning on going to a party tonight if you want to come?”
“I’m not really in the mood.”
Lucy groans. “You’re never in the mood.” She rolls onto her back and uses her textbook as a pillow. “Please don’t make me go alone.”
“The last thing I need is a hangover when I need to study.”
“We don’t have to drink.”
My eyes widen. “Since when do you go to a party sober?”
“I would for you.”
“That’s a lie.”
“Okay, fine, it’s a lie. But the only time I see you is when we’re studying.”
I chuckle as I close my books. “It’s finals, what do you expect? Besides, I’m in the mood for a movie night or maybe a bath and a new book.”
Lucy pushes herself up to sit cross-legged on the green velvet couch that she and I dragged off the street at the start of our sophomore year. “I didn’t realize my best friend was a ninety-year-old woman.”
“Well, I am the poster child for responsible adulthood.” Getting to my feet, I stretch out my back.
Lucy shakes her head, her thick brown curls falling about her shoulders. “Come on, Riley, you’re missing out on life.”
“I'll live.” I start packing up my things.
In truth, I would much rather stay at Lucy’s apartment than head back to my family’s estate.
Ever since my father was killed a few weeks ago, my brother has become ridiculously overprotective and has threatened to send a team of armed security to escort me to and from campus each day.
I swear college graduation cannot come soon enough because the moment I throw that cap in the air, I’ll be free from the shackles attached to the Walsh family.
Lucy’s voice pierces through the fog in my mind. “Are you doing okay?”
“Huh?”
My eyes lift from the paper I was staring at, even if all my focus was elsewhere, and I blink. “I’m fine.”
