Page 63 of Repairing the Wreckage

Idiot. Stupid, lazy, foolish. Nothing is simple. Nothing is ever easy. Hard work and working hard—the only true path to anything worth having. I know this. How did I let that little pink-haired witch fool me into thinking otherwise?

The moans and whispers coming from the television turn my stomach. Tough shit. Suck it up. I force myself to watch. So I know what Molly saw—what everyone in the world saw.

Even though I know damn well I didn’t sleep with Kiki, watching the footage while listening to the voice-over disorients me. Like, I’m questioning my own fucking memories and sanity as I watch every grainy, disgusting minute.

Thank fuck it’s over fast. Gotta keep the show “family friendly” after all.

What bullshit.

I open my mouth to say something snarky to Remy but my sweaty face flashes on the screen looking guilty and contrite.

“See.” I point at the screen. “I’m all sweaty from the match I thought I’d lost.”

“Or,” Remy answers slowly, “from some other vigorous activity.”

“Fuck off,” I snarl, annoyed that he’s right. That’s exactly how the show set it up to look.

The camera switches to Kiki gushing about how much she’s into him. Unlike the earlier clip, she never actually says my name. But the way the events were edited, it absolutely seems like she’s talking about me.

Even so, I point out, “You realize she never actually says my name here, right?”

Remy cocks his head and stares at the screen. “I didn’t see this part. Molly had already run out of the room, and I went after her.”

Anguish twists my chest. My Molly had her heart ripped out and I wasn’t here.

“That’s good. I guess,” I mutter.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure Hayden or one of the other girls blabbed the whole thing to her. People couldn’t stop giving her helpful ‘updates’ all summer long. Why do you think she left for college early?”

“That’s why you won’t let me talk to her?”

“You haven’t exactly put in a lot of effort.”

“Bro, you saw how I came home. You literally took me to the doctor this morning.”

He shrugs. “Well, I caught you checking out her schedule in the kitchen. You know where she is.”

“Fuck off.” I gesture toward the television. “This isn’t some happy horseshit rom-com. You think me showing up on campus unannounced would be good for her?” I lower my voice. “I don’t want to do anything to distract her from school.” I swallow hard, fighting off my annoyance with Remy so I can make him understand I’m trying to do the right thing. “I don’t want to do anything to hurt her more than I already have.”

He stares at me for a few long, thoughtful moments. “You’re right.” His gaze slips to the side and the corner of his mouth twitches. Guilt? About what, though? “You’re not really in any condition to drive, either.”

“No shit.”

“All right.” He finally relents. “I’ll tell you the next time she comes home.”

My heart stops. Finally.

“Pax has been talking about having a costume party at Zips,” he adds. “She was excited about coming home for that.”

Costume party? Molly probably has an outfit ready to go.

“You should probably think about a costume.” He scowls. “Although, honestly, if your face still looks like that you won’t need a mask.”

“Thanks, fucker.”

“I should warn you…” He glances away like he has to gather his thoughts.

“What?” I prompt.

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