Page 36 of Tell No Lies

I pushed my stool away from the counter and stood. “I’m so sorry, Brandon.”

“Go to bed, Aubrey.” He never bothered looking at me.

☼ ☼ ☼

I woke to pounding on my door.

“Get ready, Aubrey. We’re picking Carter up in thirty minutes.”

I groaned into my pillows and kicked off my blankets. I was hoping some sleep would allow him enough time to forgive me, but no such luck.

I dressed quickly in sweats and pulled my hair into a messy bun as I met Brandon in the kitchen. He tossed me a granola bar and walked to the door. The silent treatment continued.

The drive to the hospital was the longest fifteen minutes of my life. Brandon stared straight ahead, never looking in my direction. If he wasn’t speaking to me, I could only imagine Carter throwing things at me and kicking me out of his room.

We parked, and I followed Brandon through the hospital like a lost, sad puppy. We had never fought before; even as children we’d gotten along. This was new territory for me, and I didn’t like it.

He knocked once on the door to the room we’d been in last night and slowly opened it. I took one deep breath before following him in.

Carter was sitting up in bed with a tray of food in front of him and the TV turned to some sports review show. He looked much better than he had the night before. He smiled at Brandon, and they clapped each other on the back before he saw me.

I swallowed down my panic and met his eyes. “Hi, Carter.”

Relief washed over his face. “You’re okay?”

I nodded, and he opened his arms to me. I rushed in and gave him a careful hug. I didn’t know where else he was injured, and I didn’t want to be the cause of any more of his pain.

I stepped back and studied his face. His smile reached his eyes as he took me in, but when he looked between me and Brandon, his look changed to concern.

“I’m doing fine, although this food is awful. How about we break out of this place and go get some real grub?”

I glanced at Brandon and saw his indecision. I guessed even going out to eat with them broke the rules of my grounding. “You guys should go. I have some homework to catch up on.”

Carter squinted at me as if studying my face. “You’ve done nothing but homework for the past two weeks. The other day, you told me you’re caught up through the end of the month.”

“It’s dance homework.” I obviously didn’t think quickly under pressure.

“That’s not a real thing.” He almost laughed at me, but I could tell he was really trying to figure out what was going on.

“I have to get to dance, early. I need to practice a solo before team practice starts.” That was actually true. Getting there early would be a good idea, but Brandon would have to approve that.

Brandon stepped forward. “She’s right. I need to get her to the studio, so let’s get your release papers finished.”

He walked out of the room, leaving Carter and me alone.

“Want to tell me what’s going on with you two? I’ve never seen you guys like this.”

I shrugged. “I broke the rules, lied about where I was, and caused you to get hurt. I’m grounded indefinitely.”

His eyebrows shot together. “He grounded you? Like a child? He does know that this isn’t your fault, right?”

“Well, technically it is. I never should have gone to a party with guys I barely know. I never should have left without telling him, and mostly I shouldn’t have dragged you into my mess. I’m so sorry, Carter.”

He offered his hand, and I stepped forward and hung onto him as if he was my lifeline. A single tear escaped, and he wiped it away with his free hand before it got to my cheek. “None of this is your fault. You’re going through a lot right now. It’s understandable you needed to get out for a night. I might remember things wrong, but I’m pretty sure you didn’t attack me with a knife, Aubrey.”

I wiped away another tear. “Thank you, Carter, but Brandon’s right. You wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for me.”

Before Carter could reply, Brandon walked in with a nurse who was pushing a wheelchair. She smiled brightly. “Alright, Mr. Blackwell, let’s get you into some new clothes, and you’re ready to go.”