Page 68 of Demise

“Mags! Since when? Wait. Now you give me all the horny details.” I tease.

Maggie smirks. “Don’t think I won’t. We’ve fucked around a few times since the bonfire; for a while, I thought she was just experimenting with me, you know? Which was fine since I was still hung up on…you know.”

Bridgette.

I nod as she continues.

“But her family came over to my place for our Christmas Eve party. We spent some time together, and she admitted that she’s had a crush on me for a while and wanted to see where things led. I mean, both of our futures are pretty bleak, but we’re happy. Plus, she has one of the most delicious cunts I’ve ever tasted, and when I get her to squirt I—”

“Okay, maybe that’s enough horny details.” I laugh.

Maggie rolls her eyes and nods, but I don’t miss the brief flicker of sadness that comes over her.

“What does Bridgette think? Of you and your girlfriend?” I test.

Maggie’s head whips up, and she shrugs.

“That I’m disgusting, that it’s a sin. That she doesn’t want to be within ten feet of me, or she’s worried she’ll catch a disease.”

I frown at that. “Are you sure that’s actually how she feels or just what she’s saying because she’s scared?”

“Scared of what?” Maggie complains as she tosses her hands out by her side. “I’ve been patient, so fucking patient. Everyfucking time with her, it’s like one step forward, three steps back. I’m done.”

Maggie shakes her head, opening her mouth to speak before closing it once more.

“Maryia is good for me. She makes me happy. I make her happy. We are good together. Not some toxic forbidden bullshit. I likeMaryia,” she says, emphasizing her name like it’s for her benefit. Like she is forcing her heart to believe what her head wants so badly. If I’ve learned anything, though, it’s that the heart wants what it wants, no matter who or how many. We don’t get to choose…it…it chooses us.

Liam jogs into class, followed by an older man I’ve never seen before. The man settles in at the desk in the front of the room as Liam comes up the steps, scooching into his normal spot beside me. I smile at him, and he winks at me before squeezing my knee. Someone else also darts in at the last second. Andrew Hutchinson.

His head is down, hair a frazzled mess as he quickly takes a seat in the front row. Liam and I share a curious look before the professor calls our attention.

“Good morning, everyone. I’m Professor Danforth. I’ll be taking over this class.”

Taking over because Professor Corwin is gone. Because he was beaten half to death by two of my boyfriends before the sweet golden retriever boyfriend to my left squished his head like a grape with a lamp, and my other boyfriend burned his body to a crisp.

God.

That feels like it’s been months since that happened, when in reality, it’s been weeks.

Disassociation for the win, I suppose.

Chapter Twenty Three

Liam

Skyla and I are having lunch at our normal table when Bartlett comes over with Maryia Sewall. The pretty little brunette’s cheeks are flaming red, close to the color of Bartlett’s hair. She glances at me and Skyla nervously before looking back to Bartlett.

When they sit down, I notice how Bartlett’s hand shifts like she’s resting it on Sewall’s leg. Interesting.

I glance at Skyla to see if she’s clocked this development, and she just nods and smiles before speaking.

“Hi, you must be Maryia. I’m Skyla Parris,” she says as I nudge her.

“She means Putnam.”

She rolls her eyes and gives me a look.

“Excuse me, are you Asher now?”

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