“They’re so aesthetically pleasing and look like they have it all, but deep down, they’re usually plagued with all types of issues. At the end of the day, most of them are just an image.”
Her words strike me deep.
An image.
Why would Asher and I keep up an image? If we didn’t want the marriage, I’m sure our fathers would’ve canceled it.
Why did we choose to be fake instead?
“I’m so sorry, Captain. Are you angry?” She sounds so guilty and apologetic, and it warms my heart.
“Not at all. I asked you to tell me the truth.”
She smiles tentatively. “If it’s of any value, you two have changed since your accident.”
“Even Asher?” I hate the hope in my tone.
“Even Asher.” She grins mischievously. “He looks at you differently, you know.”
“Differently how?”
“Like he can’t wait to get you alone.”
I hit her shoulder jokingly. “You’re being silly.”
She laughs, grabbing her bag. “I mean it. He hasn’t been this involved with anything since Arianna’s death.”
“Wait—Arianna, as in his sister?”
Izzy told me she passed away, but she has refused to tell me anything else no matter how much I probe her. All I know is that Asher’s sister died in an accident.
My instinct tells me Arianna’s death might explain some things about Asher.
“Yeah,” Lucy says.
“What do you know about her?”
“Not much. She didn’t belong to our circle. Asher didn’t want her to be part of the cheerleading squad.”
“Why not?”
She lifts a shoulder. “You’re the one who should know that. You were the closest to her.”
My mouth hangs open. “I was?”
“Arianna always followed you around like you were her god. You were like best friends—aside from Bree.”
Oh.
And I don’t remember her.
How can I be so…cruel?
“How about Asher?” I ask, the words strained and choked. “How was his relationship with her? Were they close?”
“More than close. He was like her brother, her mother, and her father all rolled into one. Unlike you, she wasn’t popular and didn’t have friends, so she relied on the two of you so much. Whenever you sat down, she’d sit with you two. Whenever you went out, she’d go with you like a third wheel. She was kind of clingy, if you ask me.”
“Hey,” I scold. “She’s dead.”