Pretty Girls Never Lie : A St. Mary's Novella by SJ Sylvis

Author:SJ Sylvis [Sylvis, SJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

Isla

The warm summer breeze whips at the ends of my hair when I tilt my head back to look at the moon. St. Mary’s is dark and quiet at my back, and I let myself feel peaceful for a second. The nerves from sneaking through the darkened corridors start to fade, and to my surprise, Brantley is nowhere to be found.

When first arriving at St. Mary’s, I thought the headmaster would be a hardass and there would be locks on every door, but I was wrong. Granted, I’m eighteen, and I think most of the students here are, but still, we are considered high schoolers to an extent. We’re all attending the summer program for a reason. Theirs is probably for a high school diploma; mine is to get closer to my brother. Tomayto, tomahtoe.

Two bright headlights shine in my direction, and I slowly rise to my feet. I force a closed-lip smile onto my face. Zachary comes to a sudden stop, and instead of waiting for him to open my door, I do it myself and slide onto the cool leather of the passenger seat.

I can’t help but turn around to see if my brother is in the back seat. There is no disappointment when I see that he isn’t, because I’m not naive enough to think that Zachary would give me what I want right away.

He wants me to himself, and he knows I’ll keep showing up if he continues to taunt Thomas in front of me.

“Did you really think I’d bring him out this late?”

He acts like he’s running for foster father of the year.

I whoosh forward in his sports car and stare at the side of his face, noting the five o’clock shadow he’s sporting.

“He’s at home with Jess. Asleep.”

I go straight for the kill because I can’t help myself. “And where does your wife think you are, Zachary?”

He glances over at me with a raised eyebrow. “Feeling feisty tonight, are we?”

Only because I know that’s what he likes.

“She’s asleep as well.”

Just like the many times he snuck into my bedroom when I lived there.

Vomit hits the back of my throat with regret, and I hate him for putting me in the position that he did. But here I am again, allowing him to put me in yet another fucked-up situation.

“Where are we going tonight?” My voice stays neutral with my attempt at staying calm, but on the inside, I’m messy. Chaos fuels my blood, and I’m jittery with thoughts of what tonight will entail.

I don’t want this.

But with Thomas being dangled in the background like a toy, I don’t have much choice.

Brantley’s snarky offering fills my head the longer I’m in the car with Zachary, but there’s nothing he can do to help me, even if I did want his help.

I’ve been on my own for years, thanks to his father.

I may have thought I needed Brantley back then, but I most definitely don’t need him now.

Zachary puts on his blinker, and I watch in the mirror as St.

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