Page 72 of Covetous

“That was high school,” she shouts, throwing up her arms in frustration.

“Even after high school. You fucked him in the parking lot just to get him to stop talking about me. Thirsty, much?”

Her nostrils flare, and I know I’ve struck a nerve. “He could’ve said no. But he didn’t. He fucked me in that car, and he kept fucking me for months because he wanted to. He wanted me. Not you, and you couldn’t stand it. Poor Sky. Boo-fucking-hoo.”

She’s right. He chose to be with her, just like I chose to be with Ian. No one is blameless in this fucked-up situation. “I never meant to hurt you.”

“Well, ya did a fuckin’ fantastic job,” she spits. “No wonder Liv wants nothing to do with you anymore. She knows you fucked him too.”

Is that why she hasn’t returned any of my calls? Esme’s words hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest. But I deserve them. “This whole situation is so fucked,” I whisper, blinking back tears.

“So are you two, like, together now?”

I finally meet her gaze head-on, not willing to deny our love to anyone ever again. “Yes.”

She laughs again, but it’s a sad, broken sound. “Good luck with that. Shit happens, you know?”

“I love him, Esme.”

“No shit,” she mutters. “I need you to go. Pack your shit and get the fuck out. I can’t even look at you anymore. We’re done.”

We’re done. I don’t want to be done. But there it is. The final nail in the coffin of our friendship. Tears blur my vision as I turn away, each leaden step carrying me further from the girl who was once my sister, my ride or die.

I pause at the door, my hand on the knob. I want to say something, anything, to try and bridge this gaping chasm between us. But there’s nothing left to say. No magic words to undo the damage we’ve done. So I walk out, the muggy night air enveloping me like a suffocating blanket. The tears finally break free as the weight of everything I’ve lost crashes down on me.

At least there are no more secrets. But God, the price of love.

Esme and I…we really are done. Shattered because of a man who has always owned my heart. And even though it hurts like hell right now, Victor is the one I’m meant to be with. The one I’m willing to risk everything for. I just hope that someday Esme will understand and forgive me—forgive us. Time heals all wounds, right?

Chapter Twenty-Six

After driving away from Esme’s, I can’t stop crying. The lady in the next lane over is giving me a concerned look. I must look like a hot mess with snot and tears running down my face. Suddenly, my phone rings, and Victor’s name flashes on the touchscreen. I quickly wipe my face and take a deep breath, trying to get my shit together before I answer.

“Hello,” I say, hoping he can’t hear the way my tears clog my throat.

“I was worried. How did everything go?”

“She already knew. And she fucked Ian to get back at me.”

“Baby,” he sighs with tenderness. “Where are you now?”

“Driving.” I try to keep my answer short, not trusting myself to say more without completely falling apart.

“Come home.”

Home. It’s a word that feels so foreign now. The place I used to call home is now a pile of rubble, the foundation of my friendship with Esme destroyed beyond repair. As much as I want to run straight into Victor’s arms and let him make everything better, I can’t. Not tonight. I want my dad.

“Can I see you tomorrow instead? I just need to be alone. Just for tonight.”

“All right,” he says, and I can hear the disappointment in his voice, even though he tries to hide it. “If you change your mind about tonight…”

“I know.” I swipe at the tears that won’t stop falling. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” There’s an awkward silence, and I can feel the weight of everything we’re not saying.

“Just…come back to me. When you’re ready. I’ll be here. And I’m sorry. I’m so goddamn sorry about Esme.”

“Me too,” I whisper, letting the sobs take over. “I’ll talk to you later.”

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