(Not So) Innocent Little Lies

*Editor's Picks January 2021 and Watty's Shortlist 2021*

"And one more thing," I added. "We have a safeword."

His eyebrows raised and I hit his shoulder gently.

"Not that kind of safeword, you pervert!" I let out a deep breath. "Like, a word we can say when we're done," I explained. "We say it and there's no questions asked. We pretend to break up and walk away. Pretend this all never happened."

***

Rory Kane had perfectly planned out her senior year. Great grades? Check. First high school party attended? Check. Getting asking out by her best friend's crush? Not exactly on her list.

When Rory runs away from the high school quarterback, Will Porter's, attempts to ask her out, her idea of a quiet and tame year before going to university topples to the ground. Rory is known as the always-bubbly girl with a well of secrets behind her pretty face, but no one could ever imagine the lengths she would go to keep those secrets - AKA make a deal with the school's notorious man-whore and Will's best friend, Carter Grey, to fake date in order to get Will off of her back.

As a romantic who's sworn off love, the idea seems simple enough to Rory. Hold hands, maybe a few public dates, and then a dramatic, messy breakup that gets her as far away from Carter Grey as possible and back into her comfort zone.

Rory's used to telling what she calls "innocent little lies". So, really, what could possibly go wrong?

STARTED APRIL 28TH, 2020 - FINISHED SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2020

Cover by @diwatera