Page 180 of The Surprise Play
Those girls destroyed me tonight.
And they know it.
And Wily knows it.
“Hey.” Sienna rubs my back, getting my attention. “Can I get you anything? Do you want a shower or just to go straight to bed? What can I do for you?”
“Nothing,” I croak. “I’ll be okay.” I let out a dry, wispy laugh. “I always am.”
Sienna shifts to stand in front of me, gently holding my shoulders. “It’s okay not to be.”
Her eyes are so sweet and tender, her face the picture of sympathy.
I look away from it and shake my head.
“What those girls did to you tonight was completely unacceptable. That wasn’t a prank, it was outrightcruelty… and destruction of property, I might add.” Her tone gets deep and sharp. “The way they tormented you all those years. That can’t stand,” she clips. “Wily will not put up with that shit. And neither will I.”
I can’t help a scoff. “There’s nothing you can do. There’s nothing anyone can do.”
“Yes, there is.”
“No, Sienna.” I step out of her reach, crossing my arms. Wily’s jacket is huge on me, and my hands disappear into the sleeves before I tuck them under my armpits. “Can you just go? Please.”
She gives me a reluctant frown. “But?—”
“Please.” I’m begging now, and I don’t even care. I just need to be left alone.
With an unhappy sigh, she moves for my door, pausing to ask me the worst question ever. “What should I tell Wily?”
I shrug, not even sure what to say.
“He’s going to be worried about you.”
My chest hurts, my belly jerking. “He shouldn’t have to put up with it. He was trying to do something really nice for me, and it blew up. Things around me always blow up.”
“Not because of you.” Sienna’s voice is strong with conviction. “It’s because ofthem.Not you.”
Dipping my chin, I can’t respond.
I don’t have the energy to disagree with her.
I’m not a fighter, and those girls proved it yet again tonight.
“I’ll figure out something,” Sienna softly murmurs. “Take care of yourself, okay?”
I glance up in time to see her kind, sad smile one more time before she disappears out the door.
It clicks and automatically locks behind her while I sag onto the edge of my bed. Covering my eyes with my hand, I suck in a few shaky breaths, then start crying all over again.
CHAPTER 55
WILY
Waiting for Sienna to get back was torture.
I ended up pacing because I didn’t know what the fuck else to do, and then Zander got annoyed and shoved a broom in my hand.
“Make yourself useful before you drive us all batshit crazy,” he growled, clearly out of patience with me.
