Page 74 of Reckless Temptation

It was all so twisted, all so messed up.

I had to come clean. I had to tell her the truth.

Once we were in the privacy of my room again, I indicated for her to sit on my bed. I was too restless to stay still, so I paced back and forth in front of her.

“When Tiffany came to me and told me that my mom was cheating, she threatened to tell George.” I glanced at Sabrina to check that she was listening. She was, with a gentle expression of patience on her gorgeous face.

“She threatened to tell George unless I did something for her.”

“Aha.” Even though the quip was snarky, she didn’t put a lot of heat into it. “I see.”

“No, you don’t see that?—”

She nodded, still calmer than I expected her to be. “She threatened to tell George that your mom was cheating unless you made my life hell.”

I cringed, putting my hands on my hips. She was sharp. Of course, she’d connect the dots.

“I kept wondering why you’d target me. You didn’t even know me. I didn’t know you. But you’d made it so clear you weretargeting me. Once I learned that you were related to her, I started to suspect.”

I nodded. “She told me to ruin you. To ruin your reputation.”

“To get me expelled?” She asked it then held up her hand again. “No. The internship spot.”

“Yeah. She’s determined to get it and knows you’re more likely to.”

She rolled her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Sabrina. I will never not be sorry for how shitty I was to you and?—”

She stood and took my hands. Slowly, she pulled me in for a hug. “I understand.”

I reared back. “No. How? Sabrina, I was an asshole and?—”

“It’s forgivable.” She urged me to sit on the bed with her, but I went one step further, encouraging her to lie with me. On our sides, facing each other, I stared at her and tried to comprehend.

“How can you be this good? How can you be this forgiving and…”

She leaned in to kiss me. “Because I care. I care about you, and when I’m with you, I can feel that you see me in the same light.” She licked her lips, shifting to get comfortable and closer to me. “If she hadn’t put you up to it, would you have ever been motivated to target me and bully me at all?”

I shook my head. “No. I’m an asshole and I’ve got a lot of anger, but it doesn’t do anything for me to drag anyone else down.”

“See?”

I sighed, snuggling closer. “But I hate that I hurt you at all. That I bothered you and…”

“But you did it for a greater good, right?” She winced, but shrugged. “You know what I mean.”

“All I’ll say is that the end doesnotjustify the means. I hate that I did anything cruel to you. It was ‘easier’ when I didn’t know you, but as soon as I started to get close and wanted to know you more and more… I was stuck. I agreed to her demand because I couldn’t lose this stability. Mom would need money and means to get mental help. Antidepressants. Therapy. A home. After all Dad went through, we had nothing. That girl’s family suing us took even more. I couldn’t be able to support Mom on my own, and I was scared to lose that here. If she’d cheated and George found out, we’d be out.”

Sabrina stroked her hand over my face as I spoke, and I relished the comfort.

“Clearly, it’s all off now. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I hurt you again in any way.”

“What about Tiffany telling George that she’s cheating? She’ll show him the doctored videos.”

I furrowed my brow. “Then… I don’t know. If he’s cheating on her already, it’s just a bigger mess. Mom can attest that she’s not the one in the wrong. Then… I don’t know.”

“Then she could divorce and get a settlement?” Sabrina guessed. “And you would have funds to help her get what she needs.”

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