Page 66 of As the World Falls

“I’m not being hostile. You’re being insensitive.”

“How am I insensitive? The fact that I haven’t bit your head off over everything these last couple of days proves just how sensitive I am.”

“Yeah, because everything is always about you, isn’t it? It’s about what I did to piss you off, and your job and your secrets, and your best friend James, who is a freaking psychopath. It’s never about me and what I’m going through or my life. You showup here, calling the shots and acting like you know everything when you can’t even see that I am drowning.”

“Lia,” he says quietly. “I?—”

“I have to get ready for dinner,” I interrupt him on the verge of tears. “You can let yourself out.” I walk past him to my bedroom and shut the door on him.

I strip my clothes off, quickly grab a dress from my closet, and slip it on. It was a knee-length, long-sleeved black dress, but the sleeves were those fancy balloon sleeves, and I always felt ridiculously cute in them, which is a welcome feeling compared to how I feel right now.

I kept my hair in a bun and pulled some of my front pieces out, letting the curls drape somewhat nicely on the frame of my face. I slipped into my knee-length black heeled boots because those made me feel cute and a little badass, which would also be nice.

I wanted to cry, but I wasn’t going to. I had to do my freaking makeup. I regret agreeing to go out tonight. I absolutely did not feel like it anymore, but I kept my chin up and continued getting ready.

I finish applying my lipstick, walk out of my bedroom, and stop when I see Tobias still here, sitting on my couch. “What are you still doing here?”

“I wasn’t just going to leave things like that,” he says, standing up now to face me.

For some reason, a knot forms in my throat, and I have to swallow it down and keep my eyes from filling with tears. “Oh.” I breathe out because it’s all I can manage.

“Lia, I’m—” A knock on my door interrupts him, and he exhales sharply through his nose, annoyed by the second interruption. “Now who is it?”

I scrunch my nose up as I look toward the door. “I don’t know.” I walk to it, Tobias right on my heels as I open it, findingnot only my dad but, surprisingly, Marsha at his side for once instead of scowling from down the hall.

“Dad,” I smile at him, ignoring the sneering woman at his side.

“Hey, honey.” He smiles, then his eyes float above my head. “Tobias,” he remarks in shock.

Tobias feels like a brick wall behind me, and when I look over my shoulder at him, my stomach drops into said bricks. His stiff jaw is set as he scowls right back at both of them, much like Marsha.

“Dad,” he says, his tone cold.

“It’s been so long. H…How are you?” our dad asks.

“I’m doing great. I’m clean, unlike some people.”

“Tobias,” I snip quietly.

Our dad just nodded his head like he understood. “I’m happy for you, son.”

“What are you doing here?” Tobias asks now, sounding angrier.

“I…I…”

“She knows what we’re here for. Now, can you get it for us so we can get this over with?” Marsha finally speaks up. Her voice is laced with disdain, rattling me deep in my bones. I know it’s not nice to say you hate people, but I really, really hate her.

I grind my teeth together as I mutter, “Sure.” I step away from the door, and I swear Tobias’s eyes go wide like he just witnessed a murder right before him. Wait, that actually wouldn’t surprise him anymore, now that I think about it.

I ignore his look and go to my kitchen, filling a small bag with more food and drink items and the fifty-dollar bill hanging on my fridge.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Tobias mutters as I walk back to the door.

“Tobias, please,” I beg, way too tired for his judgment.

“I appreciate this,” our dad says, chiming in.

Tobias snaps his head back in his direction. “Yeah, I’ll bet. You get to take advantage of your daughter, who will do anything for you while you waste away.”

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