“And you all think Livia could handle it any better?”
He nods his head. “Of course. She’s the type of woman to turn a blind eye, as long as she got the designer shoes and the man she wants. Do you think you could buy Barbie like that?”
“I’ve bought her before.”
“Has she spent the money? Is she still wearing the same hand-me-downs? Is she still catching the school bus to school?”
Fuck! I nod my head, and Cane leans against the banister.
“Of course she is, because she doesn’t care for it the way we all do. She wasn’t raised with it. So she doesn’t find a need for money like we all do.”
“I won’t see her again.”
He rolls his eyes at me. “Of course, you won’t. Who are you trying to convince? You hated her, now love her. We all know it.”
“Fuck you.” Walking away from him, I step into my room, slamming the door. I hate that she can pull feelings from me, that’s what I hate the most.
My cell starts ringing the minute I’m in there. It’s Livia. Of course, it is.
CONFESSION #5
“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It’s been… what does it really matter, Father? Honestly, though?”
The priest says nothing, as per normal, so I continue.
“The wedge is in place, and it takes everything in me to not do damage until the correct time. Tell me, Father… when do you know the correct time to ruin and destroy someone’s life?”
As usual, I stand and leave before the priest can offer me absolution.
Chapter 20
Saskia
Livia walks straight past me at school, she doesn’t even look in my direction and as she does. It hurts. It hurts a lot to know that she doesn’t want to look at me. That she no longer loves me. I love her and I always will. I never wanted to hurt her. She’s one of the only people I would never want to hurt. But maybe the saying’s true. You hurt the ones you love the most.
Stiles has asked me several more times about the glass, but I’ve never really been able to answer him. The words won’t leave my tongue. The words become strained and not able to stir or shift any further than the back of my throat. Maybe I’m just as bad as Ryken, maybe we’re as bad as one another. Two cheaters who fell in love with the wrong people.
What a fucking headline.
I hate him.
I love him.
I hate him.
The two emotions are fucking with me so bad that I’m more confused than ever.
“Did you hear he isn’t coming back?” I turn to face Robert, and his eyes are wide as he stares at me.
“What?” I ask him, confused.
“Ryken… he’s not coming back to school now he’s eighteen. He’s taking over his father’s business early.”
“Was he meant to?”
Robert nods his head. “Last I heard, he had to finish the school year. I guess there was a way around it.”
Turning, I look for Livia again. She’s looking my way but turns fast to look away from me.
“Don’t, Sass. Maybe give her some time.”
It makes my heart hurt.
“Time from what?”
He looks at me like he knows all my secrets. Maybe he does. “From this thing, you two seem to have. Not you and her, you and him. To everyone it’s obvious, but to you two.” He looks around to make sure no-one’s listening, but as he finishes his sentence, Cane walks by offering me a small smile.
“It’s very obvious,” Cane says and keeps on walking.
I turn, pressing my head against my locker. “Maybe I should just quit, too.”
Hands slide around my waist as Stiles comes up behind me, and lips press against my ear. “Quit what?”
Shaking my head, I feel an overwhelming feeling come over me. Like a blanket of sadness that I didn’t know would come. How did it hit me so fast? Pulling my lips up to resemble a smile, I turn to face him. “School.”
He pulls his lips into a tight line and shakes his head at me. “No. Don’t quit. You don’t want to do that.” His hand brushes some of my hair back behind my neck. “You’re way too clever to do that.”
“I already know what I want to do, thanks to your sister.” I smile up at him.
“I know, but if you change your mind, your education should be your back up.”
I won’t change my mind, but I smile at him anyway. He leans down, his lips touch mine and I can taste him. He always tastes the same, clean. Like toothpaste, all minty fresh.
Ryken tastes like something entirely different.
Something I shouldn’t be thinking of.
“Will you two knock it off?” Robert says next to us, as Stiles’ lips leave mine. His hand stays on me, touching my hip.
“Do I need to find you someone, Robert?”
Robert’s eyebrows perk up. “Possibly someone by the name of Nate?”