Page 88 of Filthy Little Pretties
Caroline doesn’t bother to look up when answering, but it’s better she doesn’t, because then she’d have to witness the silent contemptuous accusations being thrown from Liam to me.
“Only that Donovan is upset about her friendship slash the ruined state of it with you two jerks, and that she needs a change of scenery. Would you like to explain what that should mean?”
Caroline finally looks up, switching her gaze back and forth between me and Liam for an explanation, but I’m not giving her one. And by the looks of it, neither is he. I flip my fork over and over, gritting my teeth together as Liam shakes his head at me. He knows this is my fault, but it’s actually his. Her bullshit loyalty to him is the problem.
“What? Speak,” I challenge, resting my elbow on the back of my chair.
Liam smacks the table, and the approaching waitress clinks the plates as she startles, but he ignores her to sneer at me. He’s being protective. How cute. But he doesn’t get to tell me shit when it comes to Donovan. A plate is set in front of me, and I look up, nodding in appreciation as the waitress asks if everything is acceptable. I pick up my pasta spoon and fork and level my attention on Liam before diving in to my food.
“Are you done?”
He pushes his plate away as Caroline’s eyes widen. She’s never seen us fight. It’s only happened twice, and truth is, after the first time, there’s never been anything important enough. Until now.
“You don’t deserve her.”
“Maybe not.” I let out a breath dropping my utensils. “But I’m the one who gets her.”
If he were to ask me if we’re good, I’m not sure I’d be able to give him the same answer as last night.Don’t push this, Liam.Everything changed the moment I touched her. There’s no going back. Donovan can’t belong to both of us anymore because she’s mine.
Liam taps his glass on the table, staring at me, feeding off my anger. He opens his mouth to speak, then closes it again. We aren’t headed anywhere good right now. My leg is bouncing, like a countdown for my explosion.
“Keep it up, dick,” he sneers.
Caroline’s laugh steals both of our attention, making us break from our stare down. She takes another sip of her champagne, arms crossed, saturated in amusement.
“You guys are so embarrassingly stupid.”
She points a perfectly manicured finger at me. “Did you think you’d give her an ultimatum and she’d cave? That’s what you did, isn’t it?”
I don’t answer, surprised by her two fucking cents. With a roll of her eyes, she switches to Liam. “And you promised bullshit unending patience thinking that would win her over? Because you’re the nice guy…only to her, that is.”
Her hair swings over her shoulder as she motions to the waitress for another glass of champagne. “Did it ever occur to you that there may be reasons bigger than her need to fuck you that gives her pause? No? Of course not. God, men are so fucking simple. Always thinking with their dicks.”
Liam looks down at his plate, stabbing a sliced piece of the flank steak with the tines of his fork, obviously irritated at being called out, and I almost laugh. Caroline is telling him things he’s never considered. But I did. Donovan is insanely complicated, but I don’t give a fuck. I knew she wouldn’t cave when I issued my ultimatum last night, because I know her as well as I know myself.
I’ve waited five years for her, wished for her, dreamed of her. And not even she gets to tell me no.
Caroline pushes her salad around, bringing up a forkful to her petite nose to smell, only to set it back down, wiping her hand on the white cloth napkin.
“Did you two ever consider she doesn’t want to ruin your friendship? If you haven’t paid attention, she only hangs out with you two idiots, and vice versa. If she picks one of you, the other one becomes a memory.”
Liam waves her off, wiping his mouth. “No way. Losing our friendship would never happen.”
Caroline huffs, snapping her fingers at the waitress and holding up her glass again before turning back to Liam.
“Right. Because everything’s moving so smoothly now? Think about it—if she chooses you, then are you saying you won’t care when Grey does that thing where he basically pisses on her when any other guy is around? And what do you think Grey will do if she chooses him? Because I’m fairly certain you won’t be playing with the feathers in her hair anymore.”
Liam and I stare at each other, as her words grow our worry from all the seeds she’s planting. No matter how much we tell each other we’ll weather the storm, we’re unprepared for the destruction a particular set of blue eyes and shiny red lips would do to our twelve-year-old hearts. Because this is exactly like our first fight when we were twelve. We’re right back in the same place, fighting to be the one she wants. Except now we punch harder and below the belt.
Caroline’s new glass is delivered, and after it’s placed in front of her, she runs a finger around the rim, shaking her head.
“Like I said, that girl is out of your league. She’s haunted and beautiful but too damn much for either of you to handle. Don’t say I didn’t warn you when she chews you up and spits you out.”
Liam swallows hard, rocked by everything she’s said as I wipe my mouth and stare at Caroline.
“You underestimate me.”
“No, Grey. I don’t. You’re impatient and unreasonable, and that will come back to bite you. Especially with her. You’re going to push her away and then hate her for letting you. And all the while, you’re both ignoring the most obvious answer.”
