Page 6 of The Midnight Confessions: Part Four

“Let’s work with what I do know, beautiful, okay? I know you were getting notes, but so is Cassie. She says that every time she gets close to someone, something happens, which is why I’m worried that she threw us together because she’s scared. Dena’s body had a note on it threatening you,” I tell her.

Lyra’s face scrunches up as she thinks. “That’s what she was hiding from me,” she mutters. “I knew about some of the notes, but there was also a photo sent to her phone of the night we were all together.”

“Cassie told me that’s why she destroyed the room, but nothing about why it bothered her so much. Did you think there was a camera or something?” I ask. That’s something that’s been bothering me. I don’t regret what we did, but I do feel violated that someone was watching us together.

“Yeah,” she whispers, her words almost lost in the din of the restaurant. “The angle made it appear as if it was possible, so I can see why Cassie immediately thought that. She didn’t find anything though. A part of me thinks that she doesn’t want to be with me because I’ve fucked up too much, so maybe she doesn’t feel worthy of love?”

This isn’t the first time that she’s mentioned messing up, so I cover her hand with mine.

“You’re a good person, Lyra. What could you possibly have done?” I ask.

“I’ve worked really hard to get here, Trent. I avoid people who could make me revert into a bitch, a bully, and a terrible person. I’m like a recovering asshole,” Lyra sighs. Her words make my lips twitch in mirth, but her words are so serious that I stare at her.

“Like what?” I ask. Am I wrong in my assessment that Lyra is a good person? Fuck, what if I’m wrong? But Cassie wouldn’t have told me to date her step-sister otherwise.

Dammit.

Swallowing hard, she looks up as her eyes swim in tears. “This is going to change how you see me…”

I want to suggest going somewhere else for this, but I’m worried she’ll never tell me if I do.

“Just tell me,” I insist.

“I was really unhappy when my mom married Mark. I didn’t want to have to move away from Texas to New York, which is fucking frigid by the way. I was so mad. So, I acted out, and I made Cassie’s life hell. It wasn’t her fault, but she was everyone’s favorite. And I was jealous.”

“Why were you jealous?” I ask. Cassie and Lyra are both gorgeous, smart women. I’m having a hard time processing this.

“Cassie was perfect, smart, and she had her entire life planned out. I didn’t know where I wanted to go to college, I just wanted to cheer and enjoy school. So I led the school in bullying my step-sister. I fat shamed her, made her believe she needed to diet, I’m the reason she has trouble eating in front of people. Especially me,” she explains.

“I’m really having trouble understanding the motivation, Lyra,” I say coldly, pulling away my hand. God, she’s a damn monster.

“There wasn’t one, except I was fueled with this desire to destroy her, and I almost got my wish,” Lyra says. Tears fall down her face, but I curl my fingers inward so I won’t touch her.

“Cassie was very depressed, and she did something awful, all because of things I did to her. I’m not a good person. I want to be there for Cassie, I adore her, but she won’t—”

“She wants to protect us,” I snarl, making her flinch as she nods.

“Cassie doesn’t believe she’s worthy of love and support, and I did that. And I’m so damn sorry,” she says.

This conversation is devolving, and we’re starting to get stares. Throwing money on the table, I tap on her hand. “Let’s get out of here,” I mutter.

I’m furious as I walk out of the restaurant, and I struggle to breathe once I’m in the night air, so that I don’t say anything I’ll regret. My parents made me take a few anger management classes, and this is about the only thing I retained.

Center yourself before you speak, because you can’t take back your words.

“I’m going to go home,” Lyra says as she stands next to me, eyes cast down. “Cassie went to a therapy appointment, and I think something happened. I want to see if I can get her to talk to me. I also don’t think I could take it if you were to break up with me right now.”

Grabbing Lyra’s hand, I pull her back. “Don’t walk away from me,” I growl. “And look at me before you break my damn heart.”

As she looks up at me surprised, I drop my head to kiss her forehead. “I’m mad you fucked with Cassie, but I know you’re not that person anymore. She wouldn’t have told me to date you, no matter how tight your pretty pink pussy is,” I tell her softly.

Lyra’s eyes go unfocused as she looks up at me with desire. “She didn’t say that,” she whispers, making me smirk. Maybe not in so many words…

“She kind of said that, and I plan to find out. Except…” I blow out a breath.

“You want Cassie too?” Lyra almost looks hopeful, and I realize that she wants Cassie. We need to get unfriend-zoned, because this sucks.

“We make sense together. Cassie’s shy sweetness, your sassiness, and whatever the hell I bring to the table. I’m all for individual dates, but I need you both,” I confess, waiting to see what she says.

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