One of Us Is Lying (One of Us is Lying, #1)

by Karen M. McManus

None of them have as much experience as I do keeping a straight face when shit’s falling apart around them. At least, none of them are as good at it as me.

I remember better than she probably realizes. In fifth grade my friends started noticing girls and at one point they all had girlfriends for, like, a week. Stupid kid stuff where they asked a girl out, the girl said yes, and then they ignored each other. While we were walking through Olivia’s woods I watched Bronwyn’s ponytail swing in front of me and wondered what she’d say if I asked her to be my girlfriend. I didn’t do it, though.

“If I’m enough of a sociopath to kill Simon I can fake anything, right?” “You’re not a sociopath.” “How do you know?”

“I really liked your mom,” Bronwyn says tentatively when I don’t answer. “She used to talk to me like I was a grown-up.” “She’d swear at you, you mean,”

“She used to tell me…” Bronwyn pauses. “She said you only teased me so much because you had a crush on me.” I glance at Amber’s text, still unanswered. “I might have. I don’t remember.” Like I said. I lie whenever it’s convenient.

Somehow, the fact that Nonny accepts my word without question makes me feel guilty.

“Come on, just for an hour till we finish the movie. You can meet my lizard.”

She’d never guess my sweet-faced sister just committed identity theft against her six-year-old.

“Oh my God,” Maeve mutters, peering over my shoulder. “Private jokes. You’re soooo into him, aren’t you?”

Bronwyn Rojas, I solemnly swear not to murder you today or at any point in the future. Deal?”

I just want to stay wrapped around him for as long as possible, fighting sleep and forgetting about the rest of the world.

God, it’s beautiful when that boy smiles.

Addy, that airhead homecoming princess turned badass ninja investigator,

Half the time I feel like Jake died, and the other half I want to kill him.