One of Us Is Back (One of Us Is Lying, #3)

by Karen M. McManus

“Of course. I think about Jake every day.” “What? Why?” Dad demanded. His tone grew harsh when Alexander didn’t reply. “Why the hell are you looking at me like that?” “Katherine said that she…I thought you knew,” Alexander said. “Knew what?”

Is alexamder realy jakes dad????!?!

“Jesus Christ, Scott, you’re such a goddamn bully. Do you really have to wonder why Katherine wants to get away from you? Why she wants to get our son away from you?”

Lmao omg

“Who drives a black Subaru?” he asks. “A what?” Chelsea asks just as I cry out, “Cooper!” Then I want to clap my hand over my mouth and swallow the name, but it’s too late.

Dumb bitch

I’m here because Marshall Whitfield came to my freaking house to tell me that he’d watched Phoebe go into an apartment building, and then he saw two people stuff her into a car and drive away.” Addy stares in disbelief. “Marshall Whitfield?” she echoes. “Juror X? You’re telling me that guy actually used his creeper tendencies for good?”

I’ve left only once, to visit Nate in the hospital after he finally regained consciousness. Bronwyn was by his side, like always, holding his hand while I perched at the edge of a chair beside his bed.

Chelsea and Gavin managed to make it out of Bayview after she killed Jake, and no one knows where they are.

“It’ll get better,” I tell her. Addy just nods, and I add, “You can’t save everyone, Addy.” Her voice catches. “I know.” “But you did save me. Literally, this time.” She sends me a faintly puzzled look and asks, “When did I save you figuratively?” “When you made me go to Bronwyn’s piano recital and tell her how I felt. I would’ve been stubborn and stupid enough to let the best thing in my life pass me by if it weren’t for you.”

“I didn’t think I deserved anything good, but you? You wouldn’t shut up about it.” Addy laughs a little, and I add, “You’re a hell of a friend.”

“Cut it out. You’re going to make me cry.” I wait until she pulls into Bronwyn’s driveway to respond. “You know what? I always hated being an only child, and it’s kind of like I’ve got a sister now.” “Oh my God,” Addy says tearfully. “I’m wearing mascara, you jerk.”

“Then I’m getting out of this hellhole and going straight to Europe,” Maeve says. Luis blinks at her and she adds, “What? You can come. Wouldn’t you like to earn your first Michelin star in Paris?” At first, Luis looks like he’s trying to calculate the distance between the Eiffel Tower and the nearest beach. Then he grins and says, “I wouldn’t not like it.”

“I will. I’m not worried about that. It’s just—look, Bronwyn, I know you have a five-year plan, and a ten-year plan”—I can tell she’s about to interrupt me, so I start talking faster—“and so do I. I have a fifty-year plan, and you’re in it. It revolves around you, mostly. Because I’ve been in love with you since the fifth grade, and that’s never going to change.”

“I don’t have a ring or anything, because I know we still have a ways to go before that makes sense, and also, you don’t like diamonds—” “They’re not sustainable,” she says breathlessly. “I know.

“I’m going to marry you, Bronwyn Rojas. Just so you know.” She puts her hands on either side of my face and pulls me close enough to kiss. But first, she says, “Oh, I know.”

“I didn’t. Do you want it back?” “No,” she says. “I want you to destroy it, so I don’t ask for it in a moment of weakness when I’m nine months pregnant.” “Done,” I say. “I’ll toss it into the ocean.” “You don’t have to be so dramatic,” Ashton says with a smile.

“If it’s a girl, we’re going to call her Iris Adelaide.” I blink at her, tears springing into my eyes, as she adds, “After her kick-ass aunt.”