Liam jabbed a finger back at Rubio. “Whether or not we’re a couple is none of your fucking business.”
“It’s my business because she’s my friend,” he shot back.
“Oh, she’s your friend? Really?”
“He’s a better friend than you are,” I said, interrupting Liam. “He doesn’t lie to me.”
“When did I lie to you?”
“Several times lately.”
“Name one. One lie.”
“How about ‘ooh, something came up at work. I have to get back.’”
“You think I made that up? Something did come up at work, a shitload of trouble with one of our government-contracted agents in D.C.” He turned to Rubio. “You started all this. You told her I don’t have relationships, that I’m a player. You spilled all your warnings in her ears.”
“You are a player!” Rubio said.
Liam looked back at me. “And you! You judge me based on things he’s said about me, most of which probably aren’t true.”
“No,” I said. “I judge you based on the way you act. But I agreed to your terms. That’s not the issue here. The issue is that you don’t have the right to come in here and give me the mean-disgusted-face because I’m dancing with Rubio. It’s not like you caught us fucking in the middle of the floor.”
“I don’t give a shit,” said Liam. “It’s your life, your choice. If you want to fuck Ruby in the middle of the floor, then fuck him. Why would I fucking care? God, I’m happy for you. You can even do it at my house if you want, in my play room. It would truly make me happy to see you having a healthy, avid sex life.”
“See!” I pointed at him. “That’s what I’m talking about. Every time you say something like that, it’s not to be nice. It’s to push me away.”
“I’m not trying to push you away. I’m just saying, if Ruby’s what turns you on, go for it.”
“Ruby doesn’t turn me on. He’s selfish and annoying.”
“Hey,” he protested. “I’m standing right here.”
“I know you don’t want me,” I said to Liam. “I think you came here tonight to catch me with Ruby and cause a big drama. He told me, Liam. You love to mess with women’s minds.”
“Oh yes,” he said, throwing up his hands. “More friendly warnings from Rubio. Shocking. Did it ever occur to you that it helps his agenda to tear me down? Do you think he doesn’t want to fuck you once he warns you away from me? And that he won’t fuck you over afterward, ten times worse than I ever would?”
“Again, I’m right here,” yelled Rubio. He stuck a finger in Liam’s face. “Want to talk about agendas? She deserves to know who you really are—”
“Shut the fuck up!”
“And the reason you do this to her! Jesus Cristo, it is enough. When you going to be honest? When you going to tell what happened to you, why you behave this way?”
Liam shoved his finger away. “Shut your fucking mouth. You don’t know anything about it.”
I watched them, lost. “What are you talking about?”
“Do not tell her,” Liam said in a voice like death. “For once in your fucking life, don’t be a backstabbing asshole.”
“What happened?” I pressed. “Something bad? What?”
“Nothing.” Liam flicked his fingers. “More character assassination from the most jacked up, hypocritical player on the face of the planet. He wants to sleep with you and he’ll say anything to do it. He won’t give up until he’s found a way between your legs.”
“Whatever,” Ruby said with a petulant curl of his lip. “Is your problem, Liam. Your stupidity. You can kiss my round Brazilian ass.”
“So, why did you cast me in your ballet?” I asked, turning on Rubio. “To piss off Liam? To make him jealous? Is there some weird competitive thing going on between the two of you?”
Rubio laughed, a hard, sharp laugh. Liam glared at him. “Don’t.”
“You want to know why I cast you?” he said to me.
“Don’t,” Liam said again. “Don’t do it.”
I looked between them. “Why are you guys speaking this secret language?”
Rubio turned to me with his satyr smile. “I cast you in my ballet, Ash-lee, cause Liam paid me money to do it. I was going to ask Heather.” He rolled his eyes. “I should have asked Heather. All this drama isn’t worth the twenty-five.”
I turned to Liam. “You paid him twenty-five pounds to put me in his ballet?”
Liam pursed his lips. “Twenty-five thousand.”
“Don’t be modest,” Rubio snarled. “Tell her all of it. You offered me thirty at first.”
“I offered you a thousand but you sneered at it, you greedy bastard.”
I gawked at Liam. “You paid him all that money to…to cast me?”
He leaned back against the wall and let out a sigh. “Yes, okay? Guilty. I thought you deserved the role and he didn’t want to give it to you.”
“No, that isn’t why.” Rubio cut him off in a savage tone. “Tell the truth, you fucking asshole.” He turned to me. “He did it to distract you. Because he’s going to dump you soon. I don’t know. In a week or two, I think. The ballet will keep you busy, fix his guilt.”
“That’s not why I did it,” Liam snapped.
“No? You can’t even admit the truth to yourself,” he said, poking a finger into Liam’s chest.
Liam grabbed it. “I would be more fucking careful if I were you. It’s hard to dance with two broken legs.”
“You acted all impressed whenever I talked about the ballet.” My voice sounded wooden. “You were all like ‘wow,’ and ‘awesome,’ when all the time it was you who…” I blinked at him, feeling horribly betrayed. “Why didn’t you just tell me the truth? And you?” I said, spinning on Ruby. “You’re both big fucking liars who play games.”
Rubio muttered something under his breath in Portuguese and walked away. I glared at Liam.
“I know we’re not together,” I said in a very cold voice. “I know that. I don’t care if you’re going to leave me, because you were never with me to begin with—”
“I was with you,” he said. “I went out of my way to help you.”
“You’re such a generous, kind person.” My voice grew edgier by the moment. “That’s why I don’t understand how you can lie and manipulate me at the same time. I mean, I know you get off on it—”
“Ashleigh—”
“You’re probably getting hard in your jeans right now because I’m freaked out and upset—”
“Ashleigh!”
“Rubio told me,” I yelled back at him. “He told me you get off on this. That you like to use women, and mess with them. He warned me how easily you get bored. I know that you?
?re playing me, Liam. I would respect it more if you let me in on the whole load of bullshit from the start.”
“Do not,” he said, holding up a hand. “Do not call our thing bullshit. I didn’t spend one moment with you that was bullshit. What kind of monster do you think I am? That I would prey on a damaged, sexually vulnerable woman?”
“I don’t know, Liam! I’m just telling you what I see.”
“You’re looking through the wrong pair of glasses, damn you. You’re blind. If you take Rubio’s word over mine— You don’t know— Jesus. Fuck it,” he said. “Go ahead. Go back to your ‘friend’ Rubio and practice your goddamned ballet some more. I’m finished here. We’re finished. Have a nice life.”
He turned and walked away from me, then turned back a moment later.
“Oh, and the reason I came here was to tell you that your father died today. This morning. Congratulations, Ashleigh. Now you’re free and clear.”
I stood and watched him go, stunned into silence. My father died today and I hadn’t even known. Somehow I’d imagined I’d feel it, when his evil presence ceased to exist in the world. All the loss I felt was attached to Liam. He wouldn’t see me again, not after this. I didn’t even think we’d be friends.
“Ash-lee?”
I turned and looked down the hall. Rubio leaned against the door of the studio, watching me with a grimace. “You okay?” he asked.
I stalked back to him, fully intending to bitch-slap his face.
“Don’t,” he said, backing into the room. “Don’t start with me. I am not involved in this.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about the money?”
“Because he told me not to.” He jeté’d away from me and then tipped forward into a handstand. “He manipulates. He lies. I told you.”
“What were you saying to him, about telling me the truth? What truth?”
“It doesn’t matter.” He huffed out a breath, pointing his toes at the ceiling. “He’s bad for you, okay? I told you. You don’t listen.”
I stormed across the room. “Stop that. Get off your fucking hands and talk to me.” I pushed him and he went tumbling down in a heap, then he grabbed my legs and pulled me down too. He leaned over me, trapping my hands behind me, and kissed me on the mouth. Not a silly, exaggerated kiss this time, but a real kiss, seductive and demanding. For a moment I was too shocked to react to the questing pressure. Ruby was kissing me. Why? His force and his weight panicked me a little.