Page 44 of Burn the Wild

“Unbelievable. After everything I’ve given you, everything I’ve done for you, and this is how you act? You should be fucking grateful.”

I squeeze my eyes shut. My body hurts.Be grateful. I should be, but I can’t. The sadness pours into me and I can’t shake it off, no matter how hard I try.

My eyes snap open. Anger flares through me. “Be grateful? You turned my cards off,” I hiss.

“And it got you to call.”

“I’m not calling for money,” I lie. “I got a job.”

“A job? Where?” Now Gavin sounds suspicious.

I smirk. “Face it. I don’t need you.”

“I should fucking sue your ass for breach of contract.”

“Am I in breach, Gavin?” I go for a cool tone and glance at the man next to me. “Threaten me all you want. I currently have a lawyer looking over my contract right now.”

Over the line, Gavin sucks in a breath.

“Say hi, Joe.” I stick my phone in the man’s face.

“Hi—”

I rip back the phone. “See?” I say. “Don’t fuck with me.”

Gavin’s quiet. Too long.

Memory pulls at me. Ten years ago. The day I signed our contract is blurry, but I picked up that pen and gave Gavin control over everything. I never asked questions. But Gavin’s uneasy silence, and the pit in my stomach, tells me I should have.

A cold sweat breaks out over my palms. I really need to get that fucking contract.

“How long?” His voice is calm and even. “How long do you need?”

I exhale. My heart trembles, like it can barely believe my win. “The summer?”

“The summer. I understand.”

My eyes grow big. “You do?”

“Listen, I’m just worried, Reese.”

“You are?”

“Of course, I am. You’re so special to me. My shiny little shooting star.”

At his words, hot tears fill my eyes.

It’s the exhausting fight of loving Gavin and hating him at the same time. Being suspicious and trusting him. Because who else do I have to trust, to love? It’s like trying to see beyond the universe. You can’t.

“Don’t worry, Reese. I just want to help you. I understand how hard it must be, but I will help you. You can trust me, okay?”

“Okay,” I whisper.

“I’ll do this for you, but you do something for me,” he says, his voice low and strained. “Take your fucking pills, you hear me? Check in every few days. The summer will go by before you know it, and you’ll be home. And we’ll work everything out.” Gavin sounds like he’s trying to convince himself. “Including the contract.”

I hang up the phone. Even though I should feel thrilled by this small victory, all I feel is deflated. Because eventually, I have to go back.

Chest heaving, I stare at the drink set in front of me. Over my head, the black hole shimmers.

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