Page 8 of Fool Me Once

“Why do you look like someone killed your dog? That’s awesome,” I say, reaching over and slapping her shoulder. “You’ll be closer to Silas too. And farther away from me. Win-win.” I take a swig from my drink, winking.

My sister knows I’m joking around, but she will be closer to our older brother, Silas, if she moves to South Carolina.

“She is going to need to stay with you,” she says matter-of-factly. “Gem. She’s … she’s going to have to move in with you for a bit.”

I spit the drink out into the air, slamming the cup down onto the counter, and my sister scowls, looking at me like I’m a fucking pig.

“Repeat whatever it was you just said,” I choke out, still wheezing frommy drink. “Because I swore you said something along the lines of,Gemma is going to stay with me. And I know that couldn’t possibly be what you said. You’re a fucking wack job, but you’re notthatinsane.”

For a moment, she just stares at me.

“That is what I said,” she answers softly. “And before you freak out, know this: I wouldn’t even consider this if I thought there was another option. After all, you ruined her life when she was seventeen, and I don’t think she or I have forgiven you for that.”

Nothing about this makes sense. Did Gemma and I have a fling right around the time I was graduating high school? Yes. Did I love her? Also, yes. But that was a long time ago. And she went on to live the life she’d always dreamed of. All because I’d left her behind so that I wouldn’t hold her back. So, why does she need me now?

“I must be fucking drunk because there’s no way you’re really standing here, telling me that your best friend—who isengaged, by the way—is going to move intomyhouse. With me.”

“Stop,” she whispers, looking toward the living room before her eyes move back to mine. “I can’t tell you her story, but I can tell you that she isn’t engaged anymore. And for the time being, she can’t live alone.” Her eyes are begging me not to ask any questions, but, fucking A, that’s impossible. “So, when I leave next week, she’s moving in with you.”

“And she’s okay with that? She’s fine with being my fucking roommate?”

“Well … she will be.” She swallows, cringing. “She doesn’t know yet.”

“Of course she doesn’t,” I utter, shaking my head at my sister. “Why would she? I mean, why would the two people who are going to have to shack up know about it until Friends-fucking-giving, when we’re supposed to be getting drunk and eating pie?” I stop, shaking my head. “And what do you mean, she isn’t engaged anymore?” My eyes narrow, and my shoulders tense. “Wasn’t an accident, was it?” I growl low. “That fucker did that to her face, didn’t he?” The veins in my neck ache as they bulge. “Saylor, if he fucking put a finger on her, I’m going to California to fucking kill him right now.”

“I’m not telling you what happened between them, Smith. She’s my best friend.”

“And I’m yourbrother,” I say quickly. “And she and I, well, we—”

“You two are nothing,” she hisses, stopping me. “So, can she move in with you, or are you going to continue being a little bitch.”

Before I can answer, a smirk spreads across her face. “You know what? I bet Tripp would let her move in with him. Or one of the other Sharks.” She taps her chin. “I do believe I’ll go ask.”

She turns, but before she can take one step, I grab her arm.

“Stop,” I grumble. “Fine. She can move in with me.” I hold my sister’s eyes harshly. “But if I find out he intentionally hurt her, I’m going to kill him and put his body in a spot no one will ever find him. Or a place so deep in the ocean that no one could dive down there to find him. And even if they could, by then, the crabs and bottom-feeders would already have torn him apart, limb by limb.” I narrow my eyes. “Understand?”

She rolls her eyes, shoving me gently. “Whatever.”

As she walks off, I lean forward on the counter and look down at the ground.

What the fuck did my sister just get me into?

Igrip the sink with both hands, breathing in and out in a weak-ass attempt to calm myself down. I knew I shouldn’t have come here, but being the people pleaser that I am, I didn’t want to say no to my best friend.

I should be able to do things like this.

I’m not a weak bitch who lets the past control the present.

All right, that’s a lie because, obviously, I am.

Hesitantly, I lift my gaze to the mirror and look at myself. I’m met with a face I don’t recognize—an almost-ghost-like person with soulless eyes and lips turned down at the corners.

At age twenty-three, I already have frown lines because I’ve spent so much of the past few years sad.

Every single thing in my life right now is a mess, and I don’t know how it’s going to get better. I can’t run from Richie forever, and I know he’ll keep looking for me.

The fact that my parents haven’t said anything about me leaving or asked why can only mean Richie hasn’t reached out to them to make up some bogus story. I’m sure he thinks I told them the truth. That he’s an abusive prick who turned out to be the furthest thing from the man he was when he charmed me into saying yes to his proposal. There were signs, sure, but I never, in my wildest dreams, would have imagined he was the monster that he showed me he is.

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