Page 65 of King of Deception

“I’m not gonna force myself on her, dad. That’s exactly the kind of thing that he did, and she hated him for it.” Shaking my head, I looked downward, whispering, “And God knows she probably hates me already.”

“I’m guessing she didn’t wanna be with him no more, am I right?”

I stared into his eyes and said nothing.

“I just don’t think the guessing game applies here if you don’t know for sure that after the dust has settled… she doesn’t want you back.”

Perhaps she did. Perhaps she didn’t. But would I ever forgive myself for not trying to find out?

Chapter 19: The Aftermath

Ella Rose

“I found out where it is, by the way.” Alex took a sip of grapefruit juice.

Readying to bite into my grilled cheese sandwich, I mumbled, “Where what is?”

“Abel’s house. Or should I say… his mansion?” he rolled his eyes.

“Oh my God. We’re still on that?”

“You’re still on that,” he pointed a finger. “You don’t think I notice when you check your phone every three minutes?”

“It’s about work?”

“No, it’s not. It’s Saturday. And I’m not a big fan of what that relationship has done to you. Lying to your best friend?”

“Relationship,” I snorted. “Please.”

“It was a relationship, no matter how much you want to call it otherwise. I’d even go as far as to say that you were this close to falling in love with him.”

“Can we change the subject?”

“No,” he sternly placed down his hand on the table. “Not until you speak some truth.”

“What do you want from me?”

“You’re not even the same person anymore, Ella,” his tone was grave. “For the past two weeks, I’ve watched you wither into this… zombie. You don’t wanna go out with the group. You go to work like a robot. You wolf down your meals—are you even tasting that, by the way? Is it any good?”

I choked back my tears. “Fuck you. I’m trying my best.”

“Ella, denial… is not trying. I love you, okay? I actually give a shit.”

“Clearly.” Raising my eyebrows, I sat back, tossing my sandwich onto the plate.

“You’re mad at me. I get it. But until you actually start to acknowledge those feelings of loss and grief? Anger is all you’re going to be left with, and it’s going to eat you up inside.”

“Dr. Phil?” I snorted, “Is that you?”

“Ella?” he warned.

Grinding my jaws, I kept my eyes on his with a piercing glower.

“After this, we’re going to look at his house,” he decided. “We’re going to take a nice, long walk around the magnificent palace where that beautiful liar lives. You’re going to talk to me… scream… we can even egg the fence if you want. And if you cry… that’s fine, too.”

“Oh. My. God,” I squeezed my eyelids together and shook my head. “You sound like a shitty holiday movie. You know that?”

“Sometimes we need those.” He shrugged.

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