Page 96 of Broken Lies
Chapter Twenty
RILEY
The sun is alreadyup when I finally close my notebook after spending all night pouring over my notes.
I rub my eyes and glance at the time.
It’s just past six, which means I have just enough time to shower, speed through one last set of flashcards, and drag myself to campus for my final exam. Once it’s done, I’ll finally be on vacation for the next two months, which, if I’m being honest, I’m dreading more than the test.
Studying has been the best kind of distraction over these last couple of days since I got back from Vegas. It’s been a reason to keep my head down and my thoughts focused. I’ve basically turned myself into a caffeine-powered study machine, and it’s been working.
Sort of.
But after today, the distraction ends, and I’ll have nothing left to buffer me from the giant emotional hangover I’ve been avoiding since Vegas, and I have a feeling it’s going to hit me like a giant freight train.
Things between Kieran and me have been getting progressively worse, but that might have something to do with the fact that I’ve been freezing him out in an attempt to pretendlike our night in the pool never happened. But the reality is it did, and every time I so much aslookat Kieran, it feels like my entire body has been placed inside a furnace.
What makes matters worse is that he doesn’t seem even remotely bothered by my lack of interest in him. If anything, he seems relieved, which only adds to my growing confusion.
I quickly hop in the shower and get ready for the day before rushing downstairs to make something to eat before I need to head to campus.
I’m just finishing off the last bite of my toast and carrying my plate to the sink as Kieran appears, wearing nothing but a pair of black workout shorts. His dark hair is soaked with sweat, and so is his skin, and he awkwardly scratches the back of his neck as he attempts to look anywhere but at me.
I don’t know why he’s acting like he didn’t expect me to be here because this has basically been my morning routine all week.
He glances at the mountain of notes on the island and frowns. “Exam?”
I nod without looking at him because I don’t trust myself not to get distracted by his abs. “Last one.”
He doesn’t say anything, and for a moment, I almost expect him to offer me agood luckoryou’ve got this.But this is Kieran we’re talking about. Things haven’t exactly been warm between us lately, so I should be thankful for the silence. It’s less exhausting than fighting.
“I’m sending someone with you,” he says instead.
I whirl around to face him. “What?”
“One of my guys will wait outside the building and drive you back after.”
“I’m not a child,” I cross my arms.
“No, you’re not. But we haven’t heard a thing from Sean, which doesn’t sit right with me. Until I know what he’s planning, I’m not letting you out of my sight without backup.”
I open my mouth to argue again but stop.
It’s clear from the look on his face that he’s not going to back down from this, and right now, I don’t have a spare ounce of energy to put toward arguing with him.
I grab my bag. “Fine. I’ll be ready in ten.”
Two hours later,I’m walking out of the exam room grinning like an idiot.
I nailed it. IknowI did, and now I can officially shut the books and relax for the rest of the summer.
I’m just about to text Jace, Kieran’s guard dog who’s been assigned to me for the day, to let him know I’m done when a shriek hits me.
“RILEY!”
Lucy barrels toward me with her arms outstretched.
I barely have time to brace myself before she slams into me with a hug so tight I nearly drop my phone.
