Page 2 of Pretty Little Lies

Nevertheless, last night was a reminder that I needed. That, even if Reeve saved my damn virtue and some of my pride last night, I can’t play this game anymore. No matter how much he tries to drag me into that smooth charm and those mellow vibes. These political-gang rules still apply to the both of us.

My ass stays out of The Landings and his South Shore.

Period.

This Romeo and Juliet bullshit is going to chop one of us down and they’re going to die.

“Bay, can we have chocolate chip waffles?”

Glimpsing over my shoulder, Mae comes running into the room. Her little braids swinging at her sides as she comes into the kitchen while I wash dishes.

“You don’t like chocolate chips,” I tease, keeping a straight face as I continue to rinse the dish I’m washing.

“I do too!” she exclaims with bright blue eyes, not catching on that I’m fully aware she does. “Daddy said I could have some.”

“Uh, huh. And is Daddy trying togetsome? Because he needs to eat healthy, little one.”

Mae pushes her bottom lip out. “But he doesn’t want to.”

“Yeah, but he has to, or he’s never gonna get better.”

“But can’t he have a few bites of mine?”

Lord, grant me strength.

It’s bad enough that Dad puts on his emo face every time I stride into the room with his healthy dinner. Now he has Mae and her cute cheeks playing along with it too.

“Four,” I tell her. “Onlyfour. Can you do that?”

“Yes!”

“How many is four?” She lifts that many fingers up to show me. “Are you sure you’re gonna share?” She bobs her head up and down for longer than necessary. “What about when I wanted some of your sour gummy worms the other night when we were watchingBeauty and the Beast?”

She scoffs and blows me off with, “You can’t have those. You had your own candy.”

“Hence why it’s calledsharing, Mae.” I lightly ruffle her hair with my wet hand, and she squeals out in fake horror.

“Bay,stoppp. Can I have three?”

“Sure.” I slide the plate into the dish holder and turn off the water. “Now get outta here, butt weed.”

I pretend to swat at her bottom as she giggles away, skipping back into the front room to hang out with Ellie and Dad, when my phone buzzes on the chipped laminate.

UNKNOWN: Have you come up with a few dozen ways to cut my balls off?

Reeve.

My heart skids almost to a full stop, because I can hear his voice through the message. The solemn and remorseful tone that outlines tortured hazel eyes.

And as much as I want to text him back and actually thank him, I don’t.

He’s probably overwhelmed with worry and anxiety about how I might be feeling about him right now, but it’s not my job to ease his mind. This is a good send-off as any. And here I am, having to tell Levi that I lost all that weed last night at some point.

REEVE: I’m sorry for what I did, McQueen. There are no words that’ll ever be enough to cover it.

My chest pangs a little at this being a goodbye. I knew I’d never be able to exist in his world, but I guess it never stopped the idea from trying.

Maybe in another life, he would’ve been the best kinda guy to make me laugh, cry, and even fuck. But we weren’t born during peace, instead armed conflict that we didn’t start. And, throughout our differences and living on the other side of the equation, Reeve will never safely be a part of my life and vice versa.

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