“Don’t act as if you have no fucking clue what’s happening.”
Hand to her chest, she backs away, her eyes wide with concern. “I don’t, Keller. I have no idea what’s happening. Is everything okay with Lilly?”
“You’re telling me you don’t know about this?” I flash her my phone’s screen and she takes it in her hand, reading the text.
I watch carefully as her eyes scan the message, scrolling back and forth, her mouth falling open in shock. When she’s done, she asks, “You think Brimar did this?”
I hold up two fingers and say, “There are two people I told about The Informative and the trick I was playing on Lilly, and there are two people who know about my adoption. You . . . and Brimar. From the look on your face, I’m guessing it wasn’t you.”
“It wasn’t,” she says. “I’d never do that to you, and you know that. You know where my loyalty lies.” When I don’t say anything, she shakes my shoulder. “Keller, you know I didn’t do this.”
“I know.” I believe her. But then I add in a seething tone, “Where is he?”
“I don’t know. Do you want me to text him?”
“Yes. Don’t tell him I’m looking for him.”
“I won’t.” She picks up her phone from her table and quickly types away. While we wait for a response, she asks, “Does Lilly know?”
“Yes, he texted it to her.”
“How did she react?”
With my hand on my forehead, I pace Lara’s small room as I say, “I don’t know, not great. I left before we could talk about it.”
“That wasn’t smart.”
I pause and say, “Tomorrow is her welcoming parade through the capital, Lara. I need to figure this shit out and see if he’s told anyone else. The last thing we need is people booing her as she’s making her way through the streets of Torskethorpe. Brimar is out to ruin this, and I need to see what he’s done so I can fix it.” I also need to know why the fuck he did this.
“Are you sure that’s what you’re doing?”
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“I know you, Keller, and I know what that kind of text does to your head.”
Yeah, it does all sorts of fucked-up things. The gnawing brunt of that text message, the words behind it, the history behind it . . . it’s a knife to the chest.
“It’s not fucking true,” I shout. “I never wanted the throne, ever. It’s why I’ve struggled with being with Lilly. Because I know my goddamn place in this world, and it’s not with a goddamn crown on my head.”
“I know,” Lara says, placing her hand on my shoulder. “I know that’s not who you are.”
“Then why would he write that?” My shoulders sag as this overwhelming sense of pain circulates through me. “I thought we were friends . . . brothers.”
“You are,” Lara says as I start shaking my head.
“No, a friend wouldn’t do this. A friend wouldn’t purposefully use the insecurities I’m feeling and punch me in the face with them. This was intentional, and there was a reason behind it, but I just don’t understand why.”
Lara’s phone dings and she looks at the screen.
When her eyes meet mine, she doesn’t say anything.
“What? Where is he?”
“This isn’t a good idea, Keller. Wait until tomorrow.”
“Where the fuck is he, Lara?” I seethe.
Her face droops in defeat as she says, “The Crowned Cod.”
The pub.
I turn on my heel and head for the door, but Lara stops me. “Keller, you’re angry and hurt. Going there to confront him isn’t going to do any good. You’re only going to damage an already fragile situation.”
“This needs to be dealt with.”
“Just wait until the morning. Please, Keller, I’m begging you.”
I yank my arm from her grasp, and without another word, I head out her door and down the hall.
LILLY
Arms clutched around my legs, bringing them tight to my chest, I lightly rock back and forth on my bed, the sun peeking through the curtains, barely shining light on the enormously empty room.
Thanks to the ever-present sun, I have no idea what time it is.
I have no idea how long I’ve been sitting here, hoping and praying Keller comes back.
And I have no idea how many times I’ve read that text message, trying to find every little piece of information I can. Seeking out any clue or play on words, anything to help me better understand.