Page 191 of Steel

Bailee is distant throughout the wedding, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s because she’s feeling guilty and doesn’t know how to tell me what happened.

I empty my fourth glass of whiskey for the night and make my way through the after-party to grab another when I spot Bailee watching me from the other side of the room.

The fucking questions—the doubts—won’t shut their goddamn mouths in my brain, and I’m hoping the alcohol will help shut them the hell up.

I wait for Steel to say something about that day with Heather, but he never brings it up, and I’m too chickenshit to do it first.

He’s been a bit distant since then, merely confirming my conclusion that whatever happened, whatever she told him, he believes her, and that breaks my heart.

Before I have a chance to gather my courage and ask Steel to talk to me, Crow and Sage are getting married. He’s careful through the wedding and the party that follows to not make it appear as if he’s keeping his distance from me.

I’ve been watching him, though, as he tosses back drink after drink as if he’s gathering his courage.

Dear goddess,please not here with all these people.

My phone pings, and I pull my eyes from him as I grab it out of my pocket. The color drains from my face, fuzz fills my head, and my hands tremble as I stare at the screen in horror.

Steel’s parents took Lyric back with them earlier, before the party started. Now, I’m looking at a picture taken outside their home.

UNKNOWN

You or everyone you love. Starting w/her. 48 hrs.

I bite back a whimper as I search frantically for Steel so I can tell him about this. He’ll know what to do.

He’s on his way over to me, but the brooding expression on his face prickles my skin and breaks through my panic.

“You attack Heather because you’re jealous?”

“What?” I whisper, my shock from his harsh question pulling my mind away from the message I just received.

“Saw her. Saw the bruises and scratch marks. Said you were jealous because you’re not Lyric’s mom.”

I suck in a quiet breath from the pain of his words as they land against my heated skin.

His voice is loud, and heads are turning our way.

Coldness slithers through me, overtaking all the warmth I’d been feeling earlier as I stare into his blank face.

“You believe Heather over me?” I ask in a trembling voice.

“Tell me you didn’t touch her,” he orders deeply.

And there’s the crux of it—I can’t because I did, just not in the manner I’m assuming she’s made him believe I did.

“I can’t, but if you giv—”

“Dammit, Bailee,” he explodes, cutting off my explanation. “Now, she doesn’t want Lyric around you. Fuck.”

He spins, storming away, and I watch as he grabs another drink and heads outside.

I’ve been found guilty without him even letting me defend myself. He claims to love me, but is that true if she’s able to get between us so easily?

Emptiness fills me as I look down at the phone in my hand and the message thread that’s still up.

BAILEE

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