Lies My Girlfriend Told Me by Julie Anne Peters Read Free Book Online

Joss. What’s her last name?”
    Joss yawns. “Why do you want to know?”
    “I just do.”
    There’s another long pause. “It’s your stake through the heart.”
    My what? She’s so melodramatic.
    “It’s Torres.”
    Torres. LT has a name. Liana Torres. It makes her more real.
    “Who is she to Swanee?” I ask.
    Joss says, “You don’t have to worry. She won’t find out about you.”
    What does that mean? Can’t she answer one question without talking around it?
    Now I’m more confused than ever. “Who is she to Swanee?” I ask again.
    “Don’t you mean was ?”
    I’m still having a hard time thinking of Swan in the past tense.
    Joss says, “If Swan wanted you to know, she would’ve told you.”
    I want to throttle her. “Maybe she was going to tell me, but she didn’t get a chance.” Did Joss ever think of that? Because I have—about a hundred times.
    Joss doesn’t take the bait.
    “Please, Joss. I need to know.”
    “Why?”
    Because we didn’t have that much time together, and there are so many things that were left unsaid, and undone. I answer quietly, “Just because.”
    Joss sighs, sounding exactly like Swanee. “Liana was her girlfriend.”
    My jaw unhinges. I say, “But I am—was—”
    “Her ex. She broke up with her after she met you.”
    Relief washes over me.
    “Get Swan’s iPad for me, too. She has a lot of pictures of us on it. Just put everything under my bed so Jewell won’t see it.”
    I’m still processing this conversation. Something isn’t adding up, like the time line. And Liana’s ongoing texts. “When did they break up, exactly?”
    “I don’t know the date and time. Exactly.”
    “But they did break up.”
    “I told you they did. Are you calling me a liar?”
    “No.” I take a deep breath. “How can you be so sure Liana doesn’t know about me?” I ask Joss. I know about her.
    Joss says, “Because Swan gave her a fake last name. Liana didn’t know anything about Swanee’s real life.”
    Oh my God. That explains the texts. “Is there a possibility she doesn’t know Swanee’s dead?”
    Joss goes, “Fuck.”
    “What name did Swanee give her?”
    “Swanelle Delaney. I came up with it.”
    Like that’s important? “Do you know her? Personally?”
    “I met her a few times. At the games Swanee took me to. She’s a bitch.”
    Again with the games. “What games? Where?”
    “She’s a cheerleader at Greeley West.”
    What about cheers being stuck-up sluts? Maybe that only applied to Betheny. “How long were they together?”
    “You’re really a masochist, aren’t you?”
    “I just think someone should tell her about Swanee. If, um, she doesn’t already know.”
    Joss mimics my exasperated breath. “When you find her phone, look in Swan’s contacts list. She might still have the number.”
    I almost slip and say I know Liana’s number. “Don’t you think she should be told in person?”
    “By who? Me? No way.”
    Well, I’m not going to call her. That’d be the cruelest way ever to deliver heartbreaking news about someone you’re obviously still in love with.
    I hear voices in the background and Joss says, “We’re off to score some native weed. Want me to bring you back some?”
    “No. Do you know when you’ll be home?”
    She disconnects without answering the question.
    One piece of the puzzle is in place. If Liana didn’t knowSwanee’s last name, it’s conceivable she hasn’t connected the dots of Swanee’s death.
    And now, with Joss out of town, it’s my sole responsibility to tell Liana. In fact, I have a burning desire to know everything about her because I think she’s the key to cracking a safe full of secrets about Swanee.

Chapter 7
    Greeley is a cow town north of Arvada. I Google Greeley West to check out the sports schedule and note that the only home event this week is wrestling on Thursday. That morning I ask Dad if I can borrow the car and he says, “A blizzard is rolling in later.”
    I figure I can get to