Lying Hearts - Kelli Callahan Page 0,1

seen a lot of movies where they do this because my mom loves romance,” he gagged, poking a finger in his mouth, causing me to giggle. He laced his fingers with mine, and I stood straighter, staring into his eyes that reminded me of my favorite blue crayon. “I, Easton Moore, promise to be the bestest friend to you, Luna Nightingale. Forever and ever. Nothing will ever tear us apart. I love you more than chocolate milk. Okay, your turn. You go.”

Wow. More than chocolate milk. That was serious. I cleared my throat and tilted my chin. “I, Luna Nightingale, swear on the moon to be the bestest friend ever, to you, Easton Moore. Forever and ever. Nothing will tear us apart. I love you more than Fish, the cat.”

He gasped and pulled me into a hug. “More than the cat? You’re the best, coolest girl in the world, Luna.”

I knew in that moment that our best friend marriage would last for eternity.

Only fools believed love lasted forever though; only I didn’t know that.

Not yet.

Fifteen years old

I hated Easton Moore with every fiber of my being. He was not the kid I made an everlasting promise with under the oak tree at my house. Easton grew up to be a shallow, inconsiderate, rude, and mean person. We had grown apart. It happened so fast. One day we were playing tag, the next, I was the nerd and dork that he couldn’t be seen with.

His voice had me turning my head as he walked down the hall with a few jocks flanking his sides. Easton was in the middle, tall, gorgeous, and he just got his braces off. His good looks only made me hate him more.

Our eyes met, and it was like he didn’t even know me.

It hurt more and more every day.

“Are you okay?” my new best friend London asked as I slammed my yellow locker closed and spun the lock.

My brows creased as I hefted my books into my arms. “I’m fine. Why?”

“You haven’t heard?” she looked mortified.

“Heard what?” We started walking down the hallway, and I was left staring at the letterman jacket Easton wore. All state, all conference, stupid quarterback.

She tugged my arm and pulled me to the side. Before she could tell me, my other best friend Oliver came to our side. and he looked at me with squinty eyes as he assessed me. “How are you not kicking his ass?”

“What? Who? You guys are confusing me, and I’m going to be late to Mr. Gibbons’ class.” I glanced around the hall to see everyone staring, laughing, and pointing fingers at me. An unsettled weight lodged itself in my stomach. “What’s going on?”

“There is a rumor that Easton got you pregnant and you are so desperate for him that you said if he wouldn’t be with you, you’d you know—” London leaned in and whispered, “get an abortion.”

I gasped and stumbled back. I felt like I just got slapped in the face. My heart shattered. Tears sprung to my eyes, and I tossed my books down, turned my head to the fleeting Easton Moore, and stomped my way down the hall. I hated him so much. Why couldn’t he just leave me alone?

I wished I never met him.

“Easton!” I yelled at the top of my lungs to get his attention.

“No, don’t, Luna!” London tried to stop me, but I pulled out of her grasp and ran down the hall. Easton turned around with a cocky knowing smile, and I shoved his chest.

“What the hell is your problem? Why can’t you just leave me alone?”

“What is it, Luna?” His eyes sparkled with mischief and lies. “You come to get you more?” He laughed while his jock friends slapped his back. There was no remorse in his eyes, and I knew that nothing I said would make a difference.

“I’d never sleep with you, Easton. Ever. I don’t know what game you’re playing at, but I am not pregnant.”

“You made sure of that, didn’t you?” one of the jocks scoffed, hinting that I already had the abortion.

“You’re going to let this happen? You’re going to let them talk about me like that?” I didn’t want to cry, but I felt my eyes getting ready to burst and overflow. “What the hell happened to you, Easton? The guy that used to care about me couldn’t care less. What did I ever do to you?”

I saw it. The split second of him feeling guilty. He felt bad, but as soon