The Last Lie We Told - Chapter #1 - Free To Read

There was a time when Jason Carter looked at me like I was the only girl in the world. Back then, people used to say we were “relationship goals”—the perfect high school couple. But now, as I sit across from him at our usual lunch table, watching him scroll through his phone like I don’t even exist, I wonder if we were ever real to begin with.

“Jason,” I say his name softly, forcing a smile. “Did you remember what today is?”

He barely looks up, his fingers tapping away at his screen. “Uh… Friday?”

I exhale, my chest tightening. “It’s our anniversary. Two years.”

That gets his attention—barely. He finally glances at me, his brows furrowing like the thought of celebrating two years with me is an inconvenience. “Oh. Right. Happy anniversary, I guess.”

I wait for him to say something else. Anything. But he just goes back to his phone.

“You forgot, didn’t you?” My voice is quiet, but I know he hears the hurt in it.

Jason sighs, setting his phone down. “Layla, it’s just a date. Do we really have to make a big deal out of it?”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “We used to.”

His eyes dart away, like he doesn’t want to have this conversation. Like he doesn’t want to deal with me. I hate the way it feels. I hate the way I feel—so small, so insignificant.

Before I can say anything else, a familiar, honey-sweet voice interrupts.

“Aww, Jason. Did you forgot your anniversary? That’s so sad. But honestly… not surprising.”

I stiffen. I don’t have to look up to know who it is.

Savannah Hale. My stepsister. The girl who has everything I don’t.

She’s leaning against the table, her perfect manicured nails tapping against the surface. She looks effortlessly stunning, as always—long blonde hair in loose waves, bright blue eyes sparkling with amusement.

She tilts her head at me, a smirk playing on her lips. “Not to be mean, Layla, but… maybe if you were a little more exciting, Jason wouldn’t forget you exist.”

Jason snorts like it’s actually funny.

Heat rushes to my face, and my fingers curling into fists under the table.

Savannah has always known exactly how to make me feel worthless, and the worst part? She doesn’t even have to try.

I grab my bag and push back my chair. “I need some air.”

Jason barely reacts. Savannah just smiles, satisfied.

I walk away before they can see the tears in my eyes.

The school’s Valentine’s Day Festival is in full swing outside, but I barely notice the couples walking hand in hand, the heart-shaped balloons, the booths filled with overpriced chocolates and stuffed animals.

I stop in front of an old claw machine near the gym, staring blankly at the cheap prizes inside. Anything is better than thinking about Jason and Savannah.

Sighing, I fish a dollar out of my pocket and slide it into the machine.

The claw jerks forward. I don’t even try to aim—I just press the button and let fate decide.

It clamps down on something small and red.

When it drops into the prize slot, I reach inside and pull out… a heart-shaped flip phone.

I frown. A phone? In a claw machine? That’s weird.

I flip it open. The screen lights up instantly, even though I haven’t pressed anything.

“Your Love Score: 0”

What the hell?

A second later, a message pops up.

Unknown Number: You deserve better than this.

I nearly drop the phone.

I glance around, half-expecting someone to be watching me, but no one is paying attention. My heart pounds as another message appears.

Unknown Number: He’s lying to you. Want proof?