Page 136 of That's Too Pucking Bad

The stairs creak under my feet as I climb, every step louder than it should be. My heart— or whatever’s left of it— feels too big for my chest. The hallway smells like stale beer and cheap cologne. When I reach the door, it’s cracked open just enough for me to push it with my fingertips.

The room is a mess. Clothes are tossed everywhere, a half-empty whiskey bottle sits on the nightstand, and the curtains are drawn, bathing everything in dull gray light. Zane’s sprawled out on the bed, shirtless, his face buried in the pillow. My gut twists in me as I stare. I love him. Even now, knowing what I know, I still fucking love him.

He stirs, turning toward the sound of the door. His eyes squint open, groggy and unfocused, but when he sees me, a slow smile spreads across his face.

“Remy,” he mumbles, his voice thick with sleep.

The smile disappears the second he clocks my expression. He sits up fast, rubbing his face like he’s trying to wake himself up. “What’s wrong?”

I step inside, shutting the door behind me. “I want the truth.”

“What?” He looks confused, then cautious. “About what?”

My voice is steady, sharp. “Colin came to see me this morning. Gave me a nice fat envelope of cash and said it belonged to you.”

His shoulders tense, but he doesn’t say anything.

I take a step closer. “He told me everything, Zane. That you paid him to break up with me. That you thought you could just buy him off, like you could fucking buy me off of him.”

Zane swings his legs off the bed, sitting on the edge now. “Remy, it’s not like that—”

“Oh, really?” I cut him off, crossing my arms. “Then tell me how it is, because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re just as bad as your dad. Meddling in people’s lives, thinking your money gives you the right to control everything.”

“That’s not fair.” His voice rises, defensive now. “I did it for you. For us.”

I laugh, cold and bitter. “For us? Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Yes!” He stands, running a hand through his hair. “You wouldn’t break up with the guy, and I knew that he was the reason you were holding back from me.”

“You are so fucking selfish!” My voice cracks with anger. “You manipulated me. You lied to me. You fucked me enough until I fell for you. And for what? To prove you’re just like every other entitled asshole in your family?”

“That’s not who I am,” he snaps, his jaw tight.

“No?” I take a step closer, my eyes boring into him. “Then explain why you thought it was okay to ruin my fucking life. You came and ruined everything, Zane! Why do you think you have the right to decide who I should be with?”

He opens his mouth, then closes it, like he can’t find the words. Finally, he drops his head, exhaling hard. “I have nothing to say. It was impulsive. I was fucking obsessed with you. I couldn’t get you out of my head. I was–”

“Too little, too late,” I say, shaking my head.

“Remy.” He grabs my hands. His voice is raw, desperate. “I’m sorry. I’ll do anything to make this right. Just tell me what to do.”

I pull my hands back like his touch burns. “You want to make it right? Stop meddling in my life. Stop treating me like I’m some kind of project you can fix.”

“I’m not—”

“Yes, you are!” I cut him off again, my voice rising. “You’re just like your dad, Zane. Using people, controlling them, thinking money makes you better than everyone else.”

His face crumples, and for a second, I almost feel bad. Almost.

“I fell so fucking hard for you, Remy. I love you,” he says, his voice breaking. “I love you so fucking much. I would do it all over again because I love you.”

I shake my head, stepping back. “Love isn’t enough. Not when you’re like this. My mom was right. Rich people stick together, and the rest of us are just… collateral damage.”

“What the fuck,” he says, his eyes glassy.

My voice is cold, final. “I love you too, Zane, but I can’t… do this.”

I turn and walk out, ignoring the sound of him calling my name. The hallway feels longer this time, and by the time I reach my mom’s car, my hands are shaking so bad I can barely get the keys in the ignition.

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