The Lying Game Complete Collection - Sara Shepard Page 0,146

“I promise.”

Lights swirled around them as they emerged into the ballroom once more. Madeline headed for the dance floor; Emma said she’d catch up with her in a minute after she got some punch. She scanned the room for the Twitter Twins, her heart jumping when she didn’t immediately see them. As she walked toward the drinks table, a hand gripped her shoulder and spun her around. Dark eyes stared down on her. In the dim, orangey light, Emma could make out two faint Viking horns on the figure’s head.

“We need to talk,” Garrett growled. And then he pulled Emma into a supply closet before anyone could see that she was gone.

Chapter 24

The Viking’s Revenge

Garrett slammed the closet door. It took a moment for Emma’s eyes to adjust to the dim light. Above her head was a bin of red rubber dodgeballs. To her left were soccer nets, field hockey pinnies, and extra lacrosse sticks. The tiny room smelled stale, as though it had been closed up for a while. The brightest things in the room were Garrett’s Viking horns, which gave off an eerie, iridescent glow.

“What do you want?” Emma asked, trying not to get too freaked. This was just Garrett, after all. He was harmless . . . wasn’t he?

All of a sudden, crammed into a dark closet and focusing on the white of Garrett’s bared teeth, even I wasn’t so sure.

“I just need to ask you something, okay?” Garrett’s voice was wound tight. He took another step toward Emma, nearly pinning her against the shelving unit behind her. “What’s this I hear about you hanging out with another guy already?”

“W-what?” Emma stammered.

“Don’t lie to me.” Garrett clamped a hand around Emma’s wrist. “I’ve heard all about it. Who is he?”

He sounded so certain, so sure of himself. Someone had told him about Ethan. “Who’d you hear that from? Nisha?”

“So it’s true, then?” Garrett’s breath smelled yeasty-sweet, like beer.

Emma turned away. “It’s none of your business.”

Garrett sighed. His grip softened a little, and his fingers began tickling the inside of Emma’s palm. “Sutton, what did I do to deserve this? This summer was amazing—I know you thought so, too. You did nothing all summer but beg and beg and beg me to sleep with you, and the day I want to, you freak. Did I wait too long? Had you already moved on? Is that why you dumped me?”

“Excuse me?” Emma straightened up. “I believe you were the one who dumped me. You were the one who said we were done, remember?”

Garrett scoffed. “Not calling me for three days after rejecting me when I was naked sends a pretty strong message, Sutton. Dating someone else does, too.”

Emma smacked a palm to her side. “What about you and Nisha? Love your twin Viking costumes, by the way. You two make a cute couple.”

“Please. I only brought her here to make you jealous.”

“Too bad,” Emma snarled. “It’s obvious Nisha’s crazy about you.”

“Unlike you?” Garrett placed his rough, cold hands on the sides of Emma’s face.

Emma swiped them away. “Cut it out, Garrett.”

“Don’t you feel anything for me? You have to feel something, Sutton.” He rested a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t you miss what we had?”

Emma let out a breath. “I’m sorry. I don’t feel anything anymore.”

Garrett stepped back and appraised Emma, shaking his head slowly as if seeing her for the first time. “So is this all a game to you? Were you stringing me along the whole time? Was it because of Charlotte? Because you had to have everything she had?”

“No! Do you really think I’m that big of a bitch?”

“Then did you do it just because you could?” Garrett went on, his face close to Emma’s. His breath was making her dizzy. “Just like what you did to Thayer.”

Thayer’s name ripped through Emma like a knife. “I +wdon’t know what you mean . . .” she started, choosing her words carefully. “What exactly do you think I did to Thayer?”

Garrett snickered. “You are so in denial, Sutton! Everyone saw that fight between you guys just before he left. He loved you. He would’ve done anything for you. But you stomped on his heart. Just like you stomped on mine. You made him run away. He’s lucky, though, because unlike me, at least he never has to see you again.”

Emma’s mouth dropped open. But before she could ask anything more, Garrett opened the door to the supply closet, leaving Emma alone with gymnastics mats and a barrel full