Listen for the Lie

by Amy Tintera

The look on Savvy’s face had strengthened my resolve. “I’m not fucking you hours after you tried to drown me in the bathtub.” He rolled his eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic. I didn’t try to drown you.”

“Did Matt tell you I killed her?”

“Yes.” “When?” He wipes off the knife with a towel, for longer than necessary. An excuse not to look at me. “He came over that night.” I take in a breath as it clicks into place. “That’s where he went. After he came home.” I frown. “Does Nina know as well? Why was she at my house that night?”

“And then he came over to the house and told you both I killed Savvy.”

“She wanted to come clean right away. Said that even if it wasn’t self-defense, you’d get a light sentence. But Matt and I disagreed. You genuinely didn’t seem to remember anything, and we both thought we should just wait. I figured your memory would come back in a few days, and then you could tell us exactly what happened and we’d go from there.”

It’s an email from my agent, informing me that I shouldn’t worry about my books being sold out everywhere, because the publisher is already in the process of printing an additional fifty

thousand copies of each of them. “So exciting!!” I guess it is, but I can’t really feel anything but numb right now. “Turns out people actually did want to buy romance novels from a suspected murderer,” I say as I lower my phone. “Of course they do,”

“Lucy.” Savvy’s voice was sharp, almost angry. I’d turned to see her standing a few feet away, hands on her hips. “Let’s go.”

Why did Savvy look mad about my making out with Emmett at the wedding? Did she have feelings for— I freeze as the memory comes into focus.

“Listen, I wasn’t going to tell you this, but…” Savvy trailed off, making a face. “I slept with him a few months ago.” “Oh.” My voice was too high, betraying my jealousy. I’d thought she knew I had a soft spot for Emmett. He was off-limits.

“And he was rude, after. He asked me not to tell you—” “He did?” “Yeah. I felt sort of bad about it anyway, so I figured I could just not mention it.”

“Where would we go? If we left town?” “I don’t know. Anywhere. I’ve been thinking I should pack my bags one night while Matt is sleeping and disappear. But I don’t think I’m brave enough to go by myself.”

She smiled at me. “You know where I’ve always wanted to go?” “Where?” “California. Los Angeles.”

“Seriously?” “Yep. Like, as soon as possible. Fuck the Texas summers; I don’t want to do one more. Let’s go tomorrow night.” My heart thumped. I’d just been dreaming, but she was going to take me up on it. “Yes,” I said before I could change my mind.

“Okay, but if Matt comes to find you, we’re fucking murdering him.” “Deal.” Her smile faded as she squinted at something in the darkness. “What the hell?”

A knock on the window makes me jump. It’s Emmett. And now I remember.

Emmett walked over to my side of the car. I rolled down my window. “Can I talk to you?”

“I’ve been crazy about you, for years,” Emmett continued, oblivious. “I know that Matt is an asshole to you, and he’s cheating on you. You know that, right? That he’s cheating on you?” “I know,” I said. He took a step closer to me. “Leave him. Be with me. I love you. I’ve loved you since we were kids.”

“Emmett, stop.” I pushed him away again. “This isn’t going to happen, okay? I’m sorry.” All the hope drained from his face. “What?”

“I’m not, I don’t … I don’t feel that way about you. We’ve been friends forever, we shouldn’t—” “You don’t feel that way about me? Why do you keep kissing me then?” “I’m sorry, I—” “You wouldn’t keep kissing me if you didn’t feel something!” His voice had an angry edge to it now.

I glanced back at Emmett in time to see him lunge at me.

Emmett reaches over and takes it from me. He presses it to his ear. “Hey, Ben. I think Lucy needs a minute. She’ll call you back, okay?”

“Come on.” Emmett puts both hands on my arms. “Let’s just get out of this car, okay, Lucy?” His voice is gentle. It’s confusing, because in my head he’s screaming.

“Oh god.” Savvy was on her feet first, reaching for me. I gripped her arm.

“You fucking bitch! I’ve spent my whole life waiting for you, being the nice guy, being the friend, and this is how you repay me?” He grabbed me by the shirt, hauling me to my feet.

“Run,” Savvy whispered. We took off together, bashing through the trees. We were faster without our heels on. I threw mine behind me, hoping to hit Emmett.

Savvy let go of my hand. She was gasping for air. “Go, Lucy. Run.”

screamed as a hand yanked on my hair. I stumbled backward, and a fist connected with my face. Stars danced in my eyes. Even Matt had never hit me that hard.

He swung a tree branch, heavy and thick. It connected with her skull.

“Lucy?” Matt’s voice rang out in the quiet. “Savvy? Emmett? Are y’all out there?” I froze. We’d run back to the car, not to the main road. The car I’d heard was Matt’s. “Ma—” Emmett cut off my scream with a hammer to the skull.

Emmett lifted the hammer again. I swayed. I was dizzy. I opened my mouth to scream, but nothing came out. I looked up. Emmett had his arm drawn back, eyes locked on mine. “You made me do this,” he growled. The hammer was coming straight at my head.

Savvy shoved me out of the way. He smacked the hammer into her head so hard that the crack reverberated through the trees. She collapsed across my lap. Blood pooled on my dress. My hands were covered in blood.

“Savvy?” Matt’s voice was still distant. Emmett looked over his shoulder, cursed, and then swung the hammer again. Everything went black.

“Matt told you I was there that night, didn’t he?” Emmett asks. I blink. “What?”

But you seemed really upset. She slapped you, and you scratched her. I started to intervene then, but you grabbed the tree branch and just … I don’t think you meant to hit her that hard. You panicked, and started screaming, and you ran.” “You forgot about my head injury,” I say to Emmett. He drops his hands from my cheeks. “What?” “My head injury. You forgot that I got bashed in the head too.” “Oh.” Something like panic flits across

“Why did Matt believe you when you said that you saw me do it? I hit you. You didn’t have any evidence of it on your face?”

“Matt saw him that night,” I continue. “You can ask him. Emmett was there, and he fucking killed her.” Ben stares at me. His expression is unreadable.

“Let’s find out,” he says. He tosses me the hammer.

I blink. My head is swimming and aching, but I’m pretty certain Emmett said nothing like that. “And Matt Gardner saw Emmett that night,” Ben continues. “You should ask him about that.”

“Whatever. It’s close enough to the truth. People are going to believe whatever I say. Your word isn’t enough.”

“The truth doesn’t matter.” Savvy’s words sound gentle this time. Less angry.

“The truth is whatever you ...

“We were protecting you,” Matt says. “You have to understand. Me, your parents—we thought we were protecting you.” “No, you didn’t,” I snap. “You protected yourself, Matt. You knew what would happen if I started telling people the truth. You knew what would come out.”

“Let Ben think he found the truth. He did what we needed him to do. You’re right that some people will never believe you, no matter how hard you explain yourself. Trust me, there’s no pleasing people. If they’re determined to think the worst of you, they will.”

Can I take you out when you get back to LA? I promise to ask fewer intrusive questions this time. “Are you two going to see each other when you get back to Los Angeles?”