lies lies lies || book three

chapter eighteen

Waking up, she found herself in the same place as before. Deteriorating in bed, having an impulse to throw up and her heart burning. Nearly crawling to the bathroom, she hunkered over the toilet unloading the nonexistent contents of her stomach. She felt like shit. When she climbed back into bed and hid under the covers from the world, she Doordashed a sandwich and soup from Panera.

She had to check his messages. They were staring at her, she could sense it. But she could not do it. Looking at messages from everyone else, she left almost everyone on read except Mia, Ashley, and Lauren. Mia was sending pregnant outfit ideas for Drake from Pinterest making Laney laugh. Ashley mentioned how devastated she still was that this occurred and Lauren was talking about what Laney's pregnant cravings were, which Laney wanted to say was her spouse. Was she making a mistake by handing him papers? No. Wait was she? The internal guilt battle was a minefield in her head bound to explode.

Calling Jack, he picked up after the first three rings, "Hey Lane".

"Hey Jack" she mumbled, "Will you come get me in an hour?".

"Uh yeah," he said.

Before he could add on, she disconnected the call and started at the painting in front of her. As she walked into the kitchen for the first time since Ana and Jack left, she forgot about the painting. The painting of the truck with the red solo cup on the tire and the stars. The one behind Neon Star and it ripped her heart just looking at it. She felt a tear slip down her face as she stared at the painting.

Laney tied her flannel around her waist, "it tastes disgusting," as she sipped her solo cup.

"I can fix that," he grinned playfully.

"How?"

"Taste it my way," he shrugged.

"What's your way?" she asked confused.

He kissed her. Very smooth. It did taste better off his lips but he didn't need to know that. She pulled him closer, "it's alright".

That was the night that he had asked her why she didn't like to stick around or be tied down. That was the night she told him to make a wish on a neon star, which she mentioned in her vows.

"Morgan, I promise to always stick by your side through thick and thin. When you come home from being a big country star, you always know that there are no standards with me other than giving me attention. I'll never forget the night you took me to the field and I told you to wish upon a star, specifically a neon star. Something my parents made me do. I wished for someone to be my side for the rest of my life and to love me unconditionally. But what I didn't know was that person was by my side the whole time".

Breaking out of her trance, she heard a knock on the door and opened it to reveal Jack.

"Oh Laney," he gave her a hug as she began to sob, "Sorry I just miss him".

He held her for a moment before grabbing her bag and lending her a tissue box to wipe her tears and blow her nose. She took a deep breath and exhaled as the baby began to kick, maybe she just didn't like her being sad. But it's not like it was by choice.

Following Jack to the car, she paused, "What about my car?".

"Are you okay to drive?"

She snapped, "Yes. I'll just follow you".

He looked taken aback and she sighed, "I'm sorry Jack".

He just nodded as she went to her car. As the car started up, she took one last look at the apartment building she now swore to never go to again. Driving to E Village where Jack lived, she drove by her old apartment where she first got ready with Mia. The memories were too nostalgic for her to bear. As the light turned red, she couldn't help but stare at the building. A place that was so bittersweet. As she heard a honk, she snapped out of it and proceeded to drive to Jack's with the radio on.

"Now debuting Morgan Wallen's new song Lies Lies Lies," the radio host spoke making her gasp. There was no fucking way this was her luck. She brought her hand to turn the dial but she couldn't bring herself to do it. "It's a pretty raw emotional piece. Let's give it a listen," the other host announced.

Laney's jaw dropped as she heard his voice pour out of the speakers in her car. Escaping him was hard enough as it was. The love song he was writing for her became a heartbreak song in a matter of days. She felt emotionless as the song debuted on the radio and she paid attention to each lyric, analyzing each verse.

It wasn't no thing to give you up. I never reach for you in another touch. Don't ever think about you with him. And girl, tonight I won't call again and again.
Ain't nothing but lies lies lies
Look into my eyes eyes eyes
I'm still a fool for you
Nothin I wouldn't do for you
....
Why why why in the hell
Do I keep saying 'I can get you back'
That's about as honest as saying that

She let out a scream in the car. This had to be some kind of sick joke the universe was playing on her. He basically confessed that he had given up on trying with her again. He wanted her back but he knew there was no shot. As much as it broke her heart, she couldn't help but know he would be better off without her too.

Parking at Jack's apartment complex and making her way up the elevator, she knew what had to be done. Jack was waiting at the front door for her and before he could speak she told him, "I just heard his song debut on the radio about me".

His mouth parted open but the words that proceeded weren't really expected, "I know. I heard it too. How are you feeling?".

As he opened the door and she walked in, she was greeted by the painting she made for him, "You still have it?".

"Laney, are you kidding? I love this painting," Jack smiled as he proudly looked at it.

She couldn't help but smile at the thought of someone liking her work this much other than Morgan to hang up in their home. Even though people offered Laney copious amounts of money at The Met, she had found it more meaningful when it was friends and family who found joy in her art.

She had texted Ana to meet her at Jack's as well but redirected her focus onto Jack and her at the moment, "Thank you for helping me out".

"You don't need to thank me. What would friends be for?" Jack asked her as he poured himself a glass of bourbon.

"So what are the available apartment units?" Laney directly asked him.

He looked stunned by her interest in moving forward by herself so quickly as she stared at him eager for a response, "The second floor has a furnished one ready that you can stay in for the next three months. I told my parents what happened and they want to charge you only half of the rent since we are friends".

It was her turn to be surprised, "I- Thank you wow".

She still had to collect the remaining of her clothes from their house in Knoxville. She just had to go in at a time when he wasn't home. Before he could respond, Ana busted through the front door, "You won't believe what I heard on the radio".

Laney and Jack turned to face her as Ana fell silent, "Ok so you guys definitely already heard it. What did you think? Pour me a glass, Jack".

Laney spoke first, "It was initially a love song. But he just confessed how he isn't even planning on getting me back".

"That's good, hopefully, he will sign the papers and leave you alone," Jack added.

Laney stayed silent and Ana observed Laney's expression before speaking, "You are having doubts, aren't you?".

She didn't speak but just looked at Ana with watery eyes as Ana embraced her friend, "It's going to be okay".

Jack handed Ana her glass as the three of them sat there in silence momentarily. None of them knew what to say and Laney was clearly exhausted. Even though she didn't know what to say, she knew what had to be done.

"I haven't read his texts yet" she announced to the group breaking the silence.