Fake Love - Jaxson Kidman Page 0,72
said. “Everyone in this town is way too horny.”
Gia laughed. “Is that a bad thing?”
“That’s a whole other conversation,” I said. “Gia… I remember.”
“You remember what?”
“Everything.”
Gia lifted an eyebrow. “What does…”
“When I woke up from the accident, I couldn’t remember a thing. But then something happened. Noah, Easton, and Xavier showed up to the hospital. When I saw them, I remembered everything. I didn’t lose my memory. I know who you are, Gia. And I’m so sorry for all the stuff that’s happened to you. And that I was part of it.”
“Wait…”
“Just believe me,” I said. “I’m pretending to not have my memory.”
“Why?” Gia asked.
I stopped walking.
“They did it to me,” I said. “They did something to my SUV and made me crash.”
“What?”
I nodded. “I remember it all. They wanted me to die, Gia. And I didn’t. That’s why they’re getting close to me. They’re trying to see if I really don’t remember. And they’re probably figuring out what to do if I do remember.”
Gia covered her mouth. She shook her head. “Are you serious?”
“Yes,” I said. “I remember it all. And one night I was going to do something to Noah’s car and I got caught. Talon showed up and saved me. I told him what was going on and he offered to help.”
“For money,” Gia said.
“Yeah. Fucking Trocs, right?”
“So…”
I nodded. “Talon set up Noah. He blew up Easton’s car. And just tonight… he had me throw a rock through a window at Xavier’s shop. It’s just…”
“Winter, I don’t know what to say right now.”
“I just can’t stand lying to you. I consider you my best friend right now. Evie and Darcy are terrible people. I’ve known that all along. I just went along with it because… that’s what Bumps do. But I don’t want to do that. And I don’t want to lie to you. I don’t want to…” I shook my head. “I know you’re mad at me right now. If this makes it worse, then I get it. I don’t blame you. I would hate me, Gia. If anything, you should keep your distance from me.”
“Why would I do that?” Gia asked.
“I’m a liar,” I said. “I’m my mother. Okay? I want to get those guys back. I want revenge. I’m paying a Troc to help me. I don’t care what happens to me to prove my point. I’m dangerous…”
Gia shook her head some more. She looked at the ocean and we stood in silence for a good minute.
“You can say anything,” I said. “You can slap me across the face.”
“I don’t want to do that,” Gia said. “I’m just… so you really have your entire memory back?”
“All of it,” I said. “I just kept playing dumb.”
“Who else knows?”
“Talon does,” I said. “Which is scary in itself. And my mother knows.”
“She does?”
“Yeah,” I said. “She was able to… whatever. In a really bad way, Gia, I needed both my mother and Talon to help me. I’m not this kind of person. But they made me this way. They wanted to kill me. I survived. What am I supposed to do? Just sit around and do nothing?”
Gia looked at me. “Okay. I completely get it.”
“That’s it?”
“I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do or say, Winter. I get it. They’re so dangerous though. I warned you but you already knew. I’m over here thinking it’s wild that you’re able to just walk up to all three like nothing… but you knew. And they knew. And it’s all just…”
“It’s just one big lie,” I said. “But I’m getting into their heads. I want them to feel what I feel. And if you need to stay away, I get it. I don’t want you to get hurt, Gia. I don’t want you in any danger. But I couldn’t go another day without telling you the truth.” I took a deep breath. “So… are we good?”
Gia nodded. “We’re good, Winter. We’re good. I’m sorry I… the Talon thing was weird. But it wasn’t my business.”
“I just hated lying to you,” I said. “I mean it when I say you’re my best friend.”
“I mean it too,” Gia said. “I probably should tell you something too.”
Gia started to walk.
I stayed at her side.
“You can tell me anything,” I said. “You can trust me.”
“I believe that,” she said. “Since this night is already fucking crazy, why not add to it?”
“Let’s hear it then,” I said.
Gia paused again. She looked at me. “You can’t tell anyone this.”
“Not a word.”
Gia bit her bottom lip.