Page 25 of All My Broken Pieces

Sighing dramatically, my mom clucks her tongue at me. “You and Logan. Remember the Peterson’s son you agreed to have dinner with? You’re not going to back out on me now, are you?”

Fuck. Right.Logan.

I gulp, wishing Icouldback out, could doanythingbesides go on this date. “Right, um, when?”

I barely hear the rest of the conversation as my mom rattles off all the information, my mind traveling back to the night I agreed to this travesty. And then to the rest of the night after.

Arriana’s beautiful body moving above me as we connect in a way that feels so right I’m having a hard time remembering why it’s wrong. The weight of her arms encircling my body as I drift off to sleep, a peaceful slumber not filled with nightmares or depressing memories.

“You’re going to have so much fun! And the babies, ohmylord you two will have the mostgorgeousbabies.” My mom’s excited babbling brings me back to the present, back to the plans being made to marry me off to an “acceptable” match.

I mumble something in response that’s neither an agreement nor a protest to her insane declarations. I have no interest in this man or having his children, but that’s all I am to my mom and those who follow her religious ideologies. A vessel to marry off and bring about the next generation ofbelievers.

My melancholy mood worsens as my mind wanders to a future I have no desire taking part in. One in which I already feel like I’m suffocating.

I hear myself end the call, but can’t pull out of the downward spiral I find myself in. Spearing my fingers in my hair, I pull on the roots in an attempt to feelsomethingbesides the empty hollowness in which I’m drowning.

Glancing down at the book resting in my lap, I read the title.

Lost in Life

A slightly hysterical giggle bubbles up from my chest as I read and reread the words.

How ironic. I’m feeling pretty lost right about now too.

Chapter 10

Arriana

“You seem awfully quiet.” I ignore Andrew’s attempts at conversation, focusing intently on the target across the field. “Yo, Earth to Ree.”

Sighing, I click the safety on and slip off the noise reduction earmuffs. Leveling him with an annoyed glare, I snap, “What?”

“Wow.” He laughs, holding his hands up. “Bit touchy there, aren’t ya?” I roll my eyes, crossing my arms and giving him a look I hope conveys my level of annoyance.

It’s been several days since Fallon effectively removed herself from my life once and for all. She’s completely cut me off, won’t even look at the messages I send anymore. My only solace isshe hasn’t blocked my number, all my messages still showing as delivered a small reassurance in this hellscape I find myself in.

I can feel myself reaching a boiling point. A point that, if I let myself fall entirely into the anger and pain, I don’t know if I’ll be able to claw my way out again. Not that I’d want to if she wasn’t there waiting for me.

If it wasn’t for Andrew, I’d have already gone off the deep end, of that I’m certain.

And even still, I can’t decide if I’m grateful or if I want to let out some of this never ending aggression on him and disappear.

“You’ve got that scarypsycho murdererlook going on right now. And I don’t really enjoy being on the receiving end of it.” He chuckles, but I can hear the slight twinge of anxiety in his voice.

Snorting, I shake my head, sliding my earmuffs back into place. I turn back toward the target, flick off the safety, and shoot off three rounds. I remove the ear protection and set the safety once more on the small handgun before setting both down and taking off. Bouncing down the field, I snatch up the paper target and return to Andrew, shoving it into his hands. “If I wanted you dead, Drewbie, you’d be dead.” I whistle as I walk away, not having to look back to know what he sees.

A paper target with three bullet holes. One in the heart, one in the head, and one in the dick.

“You know, you scare me sometimes!” Andrew calls out, making me laugh my first genuine laugh in a long time.

Glancing over my shoulder, I wink at him. “Good.”

There’s a brief moment of stunned silence before he barks a laugh, his heavy footfalls sounding shortly after. “Seriously though, Arriana. You seem off, even more than usual.” Andrew elbows my ribs, smirking to hide the worry in his expression.

Sighing, I run a hand through my hair as I pull out my phone. I know there’s no getting out of this conversation, not when he’s got his mind set.

Without a word, I open my very one-sided text conversation with Fallon and hand it over to him. My fingers itch to be doingsomethingas I watch him scroll back and read through the multitude of unanswered messages. His expression grows more and more concerned with each one, his forehead creasing and a slight scowl on his face.

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