The Last Lie We Told - Chapter #7 - Free To Read

I tell myself it’s still a game.

I tell myself that every time Noah smiles at me, every time he leans in a little too close, every time his fingers brush against mine like it’s an accident.

But it’s not.

I’m starting to crave it.

Him.

And that’s dangerous. It starts with little things.

I catch myself searching for him in the hallways, my heart lifting the second I see him. When he laughs, I feel the sound settle deep in my chest. And when he touches me—just a light brush of his fingers against my wrist, a casual hand resting on my back—I feel it everywhere.

I shouldn’t.

I can’t.

But I do.

One afternoon, we’re sitting on the hood of his car in the parking lot, watching the sun dip behind the trees. It’s quiet, just the soft hum of the world around us.

Noah turns his head slightly, his brown eyes studying me.

“What?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

His lips twitch into a smirk. “You’re staring.”

I roll my eyes. “You wish.”

But I was staring.

And he knows it.

He leans in a little, close enough that I can feel the warmth of his breath against my cheek. “Evans,” he murmurs, “are we still playing?”

My throat tightens.

I don’t know how to answer.

I don’t want to answer.

Because if I say no, that means admitting this isn’t a game anymore. That I’ve started to fall.

That I already have.

I open my mouth, but before I can speak, a voice cuts through the moment.

“Layla.”

I flinch.

Jason.

Noah sighs, pulling back as Jason strides toward us, his expression unreadable.

“Can we talk?” Jason asks, his gaze locked on mine.

I hesitate.

Noah tenses beside me. “If you have something to say, you can say it here.”

Jason ignores him. “Layla. Please.”

I should walk away. I want to walk away.

But something in Jason’s voice stops me.

I glance at Noah. He looks like he wants to protest, but after a beat, he nods. “I’ll be here.”

I take a deep breath and follow Jason to the other side of the lot.

He turns to face me, his jaw tight. “Why are you doing this?”

I let out a humorless laugh. “Are you serious?”

“I never wanted Savannah.” His voice is sharp, urgent.

I freeze.

“What?”

Jason runs a hand through his hair, frustration flickering in his eyes. “I wanted to make you jealous.”

My heart stops.

No. No, he doesn’t get to do this. He doesn’t get to rip me apart and then act like I still matter.

I force a hollow laugh. “Congratulations, Jason. It worked.”

He takes a step closer. “Layla, I—”

I step back. “Don’t.”

“Just listen to me.” His voice softens. “I messed up. I thought if I made you mad, you’d realize—”

“Realize what?” My voice cracks. “That you’re the only one who gets to hurt me? That I should’ve just let you break me and smiled through it?”

Jason exhales sharply. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “But it was.”

Jason looks at me like he wants to say something else, but I don’t give him the chance.

I turn and walk away.

Noah is still waiting by his car when I return. He doesn’t say anything, just watches me carefully.

I stop in front of him, my hands trembling.

He tilts his head. “You okay?”

I nod.

Lie.

I feel like I’m about to shatter. The phone in my pocket vibrates. I don’t want to look. But I do.

“Do you believe him?”