Page 166 of Perfect
“You’re right, Danny. I’m so lucky to have you. When are we going home?”
“We’ll go tomorrow morning. You’re not leaving anything you want here, anyway. It’s not like you love this guy or anything,” he says slowly, and he looks at me sharply, his jaw set. “Right?”
My mouth goes dry. Danny’s not stupid, and he’s exceptionally observant when he wants to be, so there’s no way he missed how Theo and I are with each other. He might have even heard us. I just need to lie to him and tell him that I don’t love Theo. I open my mouth, trying to make myself say it, but nothing comes out except a soft rasp of air.
My eyes widen in surprise and fear.
I can’t say it.
Danny goes very still, his face turning redder and redder.
“Tell me you’re not fucking serious.” I shake my head hard, but he knows I’m lying now. His eyes go wide, and his lip curls in anger as he punches me in the face. My nose snaps, and I scream as searing pain radiates out from the center of my face. I tastemy own blood as it runs into my mouth, and I start crying as my nose throbs and stings.
“You stupid, worthless fuckingbitch!”
Anger boils in my veins. I know getting angry with Danny is dangerous, but I can’t help it. It doesn’t matter, anyway, because Theo’s going to befuriouswhen he gets here and sees that I’m hurt.
That’s not going to end well for Danny.
“My boyfriend’s going to fucking kill you,” I spit out at him, and he laughs harshly, getting in my face.
“Yourboyfrienddoesn’t know where you are, dipshit,” he spits back. It takes me a second to realize that he’s right, and freezing numbness starts creeping up the back of my neck.
Theodoesn’tknow where I am.
He wanted our relationship to be real, which meant no more stalking, so he can’t find me anymore. I still think of him as my stalker, but he’s just my normal boyfriend whodoesn’tstalk me now.
How could I forget that?
Oh, shit.
I’ll be back in Boston for a while before Theo can get to me, so I need to be much more careful with Danny than I have been. I just have to get through this the way I used to.
Minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day.
49
THEO
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27
“What I’m hearing you say is that you started this new version of your relationship with a serious breach of Alex’s trust. Is that correct?” I nod once, running my hands through my hair and looking at the clock instead of at Dr. Mills. I don’t know why I’m telling her about this situation. Maybe I’m just trying to punish myself.
I certainly fucking deserve it.
“Are you being the partner you want to be for Alex?” I shake my head slowly. “Do you think Alex deserves to be lied to and manipulated like this?” I drop my head into my hands and stare down at my boots, shame coursing through me.
I’mdefinitelytrying to punish myself.
“No, but I can fix it,” I grit out.
“How do you propose doing that?” My knee starts bouncing quickly as I think about how I have to take the tracker out tonight and how I know it won’t fixanything.
I still don’t know what to fucking do.
“I’ll figure it out. I can fix it, IknowI can fix it. It’s all going to work out.” I don’t bother looking at her.
We both know I’m lying for my benefit, not hers.
