The Last Lie We Told

There was a time when Jason Carter looked at me like I was the only girl in the world. Back then, people used to say we were “relationship goals”—the perfect high school couple. But now, as I sit across from him at our usual lunch table, watching him scroll through his phone like I don’t even exist, I wonder if we were ever real to begin with.

“Jason,” I say his name softly, forcing a smile. “Did you remember what today is?”

He barely looks up, his fingers tapping away at his screen. “Uh… Friday?”

I exhale, my chest tightening. “It’s our anniversary. Two years.”

That gets his attention—barely. He finally glances at me, his brows furrowing like the thought of celebrating two years with me is an inconvenience. “Oh. Right. Happy anniversary, I guess.”

I wait for him to say something else. Anything. But he just goes back to his phone.

“You forgot, didn’t you?” My voice is quiet, but I know he hears the hurt in it.

Jason sighs, setting his phone down. “Layla, it’s just a date. Do we really have to make a big deal out of it?”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “We used to.”

His eyes dart away, like he doesn’t want to have this conversation. Like he doesn’t want to deal with me. I hate the way it feels. I hate the way I feel—so small, so insignificant.

Before I can say anything else, a familiar, honey-sweet voice interrupts.

“Aww, Jason. Did you forgot your anniversary? That’s so sad. But honestly… not surprising.”

I stiffen. I don’t have to look up to know who it is.

Savannah Hale. My stepsister. The girl who has everything I don’t.