Page 238 of Call the Shots
“Because it might shatter me into pieces if I see him, but I think I deserve that.”
I shoved past her to the wide entry room. There were pretty sculptures and pottery pieces decorated like an architectural magazine. I scowled at them. His mom didn’t even like those, they were so performative. An act. Something to sell to the neighbors.
“I hate this fucking house,” I muttered, disgusted.
New footsteps approached and his mom sighed. “Can you do something about her?”
Xavier grabbed me by the arm. “You were pretending to be in love with King for years, I don’t know why this would be so fucking difficult for you.”
“Maybe because I like him as a person?—”
Xavier whirled me around at the double doors to the outside gardens. “I got you when you starved yourself so bad, your fucking ankles were swollen. You’re telling me I gotthatand King and Bear got the homecoming queen?” he snapped. “That’s not fair, I wanther.”
I bared my canines.
“Get it together,” he warned. “My family’s coming tomorrow, I want you perfect.”
Numb, I followed him while he talked to the workers outside, putting things together for the party. Warren tried to strike up a conversation, but I told him to get fucked. His parents were concerned with my behavior, but Xavier didn’t care. Why would he? He still had me under lock and key.
My heart lurched at the new guest by the gate.
It was his family’s house, but I didn’t expect to see Bear. That wasmyBear, looking so exhausted and downtrodden, it hurt to look at him.
Without bothering to tell Xavier, I left his side, walking to the fence.
“My dad texted me,” he said, his voice hollow. “He told me not to make a scene.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, pressing against the side of the house, my eyes on the grass. “I’m really sorry, Bear.”
“Yeah. Okay.”
“I thought you were abandoning your family, pushing away from everyone, and then Xavier said your nudes were up, and I was so mad. He constantly made jokes about it, and I thought it was like a coping mechanism or something.” I folded my arms over my chest, suddenly cold in the Houston heat. “It didn’t feel right but I didn’t stop it. I’m sorry.”
“The Kérouacs?—”
“I didn’t know who they were. I thought you put up the pictures yourself.” I swallowed. “I wanted to tell you. I didn’t know how.”
He was quiet for a moment. “So you and Xavier…?”
“Fuck him. I’m collecting some of my things, you won’t see me here tomorrow. I’m never coming back to this house.”
“Oh.”
I finally looked at him. “I think you should go, Bear. You’re the most wonderful person I’ve ever met, you made my problems feel small enough for me to overcome, and…thankyou. Thank you. For everything. You deserve somebody new, somebody who’s not connected to your family.”
I didn’t have anything else to say to him. I couldn’t tell him the actual reason and risk Xavier sending screenshots early. Reluctantly, I returned to Xavier’s side.
“Don’t touch the snacks,” he warned me. “I want you tofitin the dress tomorrow.”
I grabbed a handful of cookies and shoved them in my mouth. Fuck him. Fuck him hard.
CHAPTER 88
BEAR
NOT PARTICULARLY THANKFUL
Nobody wanted me around.My dad asked a dozen times if I was staying for the weekend, dropping as many hints as he could that it wouldn’t be a good idea. I didn’t know if I would. It hurt to stay but I couldn’t go. I couldn’t leave June alone with them.
