Page 92 of Running from Drac
Poppy tries to step between us, pressing a hand to each of our chests. “Okay, let’s all calm down—”
“No,” I cut her off. “I’m done calming down. I’m done pretending like what she’s doing is okay. You may be cool with it happening, but not me. She’s a fucking selfish bitch, and you know it.”
Pippa folds her arms. “Look in the mirror, babe. Trust me, you won’t like what you see.”
“I know you’re hiding something from me. You both are! My gut’s never wrong, and it’s been twisting for weeks every time I’m near either of you. So, what are you both hiding? Tell me! Tell me before you’re both out of the wedding.”
Pippa scoffs. “You’re paranoid.”
“No,” I whisper, stepping even closer. “I’m finally waking the hell up.”
Pippa doesn’t back down. Her jaw locks, shoulders pulling back as she lifts her chin like she’s daring me to say more. She’s not scared, and that’s what pisses me off the most. She’s standing there like I’m the crazy one. Like I’m the problem.
“Get out of my face,” she says.
My hands curl into fists, nails digging into my palms. “Or what?”
“You really wanna do this right now? You wanna have another Amber meltdown, one that will result in you losing one of the last people that gives a fuck about you?”
“You only care about yourself, Pippa,” I snap. “Always have.”
She smirks. “At least I actually like myself, Amber. Can you say the same? Can you look at your reflection and love the person staring back at you, like I can? I’m not a fucking train wreck, Amber. Not like you. You fucking derailed the moment you met Eddie.”
That smug look is all it takes.
I shove her.
Hard.
She stumbles backward and slams into the hallway wall, knocking a picture of us in Cabo off the nail holding it. The glass shatters on the ground just as Poppy jumps between us, shrieking something, but I’m too angry to hear her.
“You fake, manipulative bitch,” I yell, lunging at her again.
Poppy manages to stop me with a protective hand, but I can see it in her eyes. She’s protecting her sister here… not me. Never me.
“Jesus Christ, Amber, are you serious?” Pippa shouts, face beet red, hair sticking to her face like spider webs.
“You’ve been waiting for this, haven’t you?” I scream. “You’ve been hoping I’d fall apart just so you could step in and pick up the pieces. You want my life, don’t you?”
“Oh my god,” she laughs bitterly. “Your life? I wouldn’t want your pathetic life if it came with a million dollars and a mansion.”
“You’re jealous,” I snarl. “You always have been.”
She snorts. “Of what? You? Your emotional outbursts? Your perfect little relationship that’s built on cheating and lies? Nofucking thank you. You can keep that shit. Hell, even your own mother doesn’t fucking want to be at your stupid wedding. Tell me you’re fucked up without telling me you’re fucked up.”
Her head snaps back, my fist connecting with her perfect jawline. “You leave my fucking mother out of this.”
She spits at the ground, blood coating the carpet. “I don’t have to. Your mother does that on her own. And guess what, Amber? Eddie will leave you one day too. The second he realizes that you’re full of bullshit like we all have.”
Her words sting. I feel each one like I’m stuck in a beehive of angry wasps.
“You’re one of my best friends,” I snap, my voice wavering. “You’re supposed to have my back.”
“And you’re supposed to be sane,” she spits. “But your right hook says otherwise.”
“And I’m going to give you a left one, if you don’t shut your damn mouth!”
Poppy throws her arms out between us again. “Stop it. Both of you. Just stop.”
