Page 111 of Pretty Poisoned

"Um, it's my sister," I tell him.

They haven't stopped with the disapproving text messages and voicemails, but I've ignored them. Over the last couple of days, they switched tactics. Now, instead of just mocking me, they're threatening to get rid of all my things.

BLAKELY Just so you know, we're about done moving everything out. Mom and Dad said that if you aren't back to get your stuff by this weekend, they're going to donate it all to the Salvation Army.

BLAKELY She already scheduled the pick up.

BLAKELY Come home. I need you. I need your help with the wedding. I'll help you find a job and a place to stay. Just come home.

The text bubble shows that she's still typing, so I watch and wait.

BLAKELY You owe me rent and electric, too. And I know you're not even pretending to work now—you haven't posted in weeks. Mom said your bank account is empty.

I sigh, close the message, and open the one from my mom.

It's only a screenshot confirming the pick-up time for the Salvation Army.

"They're still mad at you?" Luca asks.

"They're throwing all my stuff away," I tell him. "If I don't come home by next weekend, they're getting rid of all of it. It'severythingI own. I'll just…I'll have to book a flight home or something. Maybe I can convince my mom to take it."

"Teagan—"

"I'm going to go take a shower. I smell gross—like smoke and bus and sex."

Tossing my phone aside, I head into the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I stand under the hot water and berate myself because they're probably fucking right, aren't they? I can't do this forever.Theycan't even do this forever.

After showering, I dry off, wrap myself in a towel, and walk back into the room. Luca is still there, sitting on the small couch in the corner.

"You're still here."

"Yep," he says. "I arranged for movers to pack up your things and take it all to a storage facility in Buena Park; that's not too far, is it?"

"What? No…no, that's not too far."

"I don't know how much money you owe your sister, but I sent her 5K to fuck off—is that enough?"

"Um, yeah. That's a lot more than I owe her."

"Good," he says. "I'll tell her it's an engagement gift and I'll see her at the wedding."

"You'd go to the wedding?" I ask, confused. "You did all of that for me?Howdid you do all of that?"

"Of course," he says. "Why are you so surprised? Do you think I'm stupid or something?"

"What? No, I don't think you're stupid."

"I'm not just a pretty face, baby," he says, smiling. He gets up and kisses me on the lips. "I can take care of you. We'll go down there together after this tour is over, and you can get whatever you want and bring it up to the house. Okay?"

"Okay…"

"I'll see you later, Teag."

"Bye…"

After watching him leave, I get dressed and dry my hair.

Then, I do something stupid—I put on his fucking deodorant and cologne just so that I can smell like him again. Realizing I don't want to do anything except wait for him to come back, I curl up on the sofa and stare at the wall.

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