All The Lies (Lies & Truths Duet #1) - Rina Kent Page 0,31

farther to my oldest pictures. Considering I’m an attention whore who posts often, it takes me several minutes to reach memories from high school.

My only picture with Asher stares back at me. It’s three years old, which means we were seniors at the time.

He stands in the middle of the empty field wearing white and blue football gear. His jersey sticks to his abs with sweat, and black lines sit underneath his eyes accentuating their forest color.

He grins in a wide and slightly cocky way, appearing every bit the gorgeous bastard he is.

He carries me bridal style in his strong arms. I’m wearing a matching white and blue cheerleading uniform with ‘Blue Tigers’ written on top. One of my legs is tossed high in the air as both my arms form a V with blue pom-poms.

Friday night lights shine behind us, creating a picture-perfect couple. There’s no caption, but there are hashtags.

#TigersForTheWin #We’reTheBest #StateHereWeCome #MyHero

I gawk at the last hashtag as if I can get into my head at the time and figure out why the hell I called him that.

Then I watch my smile in the picture. Wide and goofy, almost…happy. It’s not fake like all my smiles afterward. If anything, my picture with Asher is the last one where I had a resemblance of a genuine smile. Everything after that is plastic, dishonest…fake.

What happened three years ago?

I attempt to stalk Asher’s social media and see if the change is mutual. Then I recall Lucy telling me he doesn’t use social media. He never did, not even in high school.

I wonder why.

I check my DMs. They’re all either from Bree or the rest of the squad. They’re asking why I’m not answering my phone and haven’t returned to school.

I only reply to Lucy, telling her I have a doctor’s appointment.

Hopefully she believes it and asks the others to leave me alone.

I’m about to exit Instagram when a new message pops up on my screen. The username is Cloud003. I click on it out of curiosity then gasp.

Cloud003: Do you want to know who bound you like a slut?

My heartbeat picks up as I read and re-read the message. Is this the person who did it?

I scroll up and find other messages from the same user.

The first one he sent was two years ago.

Cloud003: I enjoyed your pussy tonight. Happy Halloween.

Cloud003: By the way, that mask you wore was such a lousy disguise. I obviously know who you are.

Reina-Ellis: What makes you think I don’t know who you are too?

Cloud003: Doubtful. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have opened your legs for me so readily. You wouldn’t have come that hard on my cock. Admit it—you like the thrill of the unknown.

Reina-Ellis: So do you.

Cloud003: But I already know who you are, my slut. Are you my slut, Reina?

Reina-Ellis: I am.

Cloud003: Only my slut?

Reina-Ellis: Only yours.

I gawk at the messages. That can’t be possible. I would never call myself a slut.

Besides, who the hell is this guy?

I click on his profile. It’s set on private and there’s no profile picture. He has zero followers and follows two accounts, but I can’t see what they are.

Dammit.

I go back to the exchange between us.

After that exchange, there was a message from me.

Reina-Ellis: Can we meet?

Cloud003: That’s not how it works, Reina. Repeat it and say it right this time.

Reina-Ellis: Can we meet, please?

Cloud003: I love it when you beg, but no, I’m not interested in you outside the unknown.

Reina-Ellis: But you already know who I am.

Cloud003: Exactly.

Reina-Ellis: You’re a jerk.

Cloud003: One whose cock you rode all night.

Reina-Ellis: Screw you. I’m not talking to you anymore.

No more messages came from him until a year later, last fall, in October.

Cloud003: I knew you would change your mind, my slut.

Reina-Ellis: I didn’t.

Cloud003: Then why did you come to the same Halloween party dressed in the same kitten mask?

Reina-Ellis: I didn’t come to this party because of you.

Cloud003: Is that why you keep watching me from across the room when you think I’m not looking?

Reina-Ellis: Fuck you.

Cloud003: I would rather fuck you.

Cloud003: Get your ass to the same room in five minutes. When I walk in there, I want you fully naked on your back, your legs spread wide apart. Don’t turn on any lights or I’ll go.

Cloud003: Leave the mask and the heels on.

Reina-Ellis: What makes you think I want to fuck you?

Cloud003: Four minutes, Reina.

Reina-Ellis: Jerk.

Cloud003: One who’ll be fucking that tight pussy all night.

A day later, there’s a message from me.

Reina-Ellis: You still don’t want to