Page 73 of Bad Blood

With a look of defeat, she reaches into her bag and hands me my phone.

“Good, I suppose I’ll see you in court.”

It won’t only be her who goes down for this; her family will, too.

As for now, I know I’ve caused more than enough damage.

I walk away, passing Mr. Davison, our English teacher.

He just looks at me as I leave because he knows there’s no point saying anything. I won’t listen. Definitely not when I have to get my girl back.

I make my way outside and call Billie. The phone I used yesterday was one of Dad’s spares.

I dial her number and it goes straight to her voicemail. I didn’t want to leave another message to add to the ton I’ve already left, but it’s all I can do.

I’m not sure how her family will receive me if I turn up at their front door because I know they know what happened. Cal isn’t stupid. He would have figured out that even if the video exposure wasn’t my fault, I shouldn’t have had it in the first place.

I’m sure he would greet me with his guns if I went to their home, but I will go if I have to.

When the beep sounds, I open my mouth to leave the message but stop mid-thought. All my previous messages have told Billie it wasn’t my fault and that I wouldn’t hurt her.

This one needs to be different, so I think of all the things that were my fault and work with that.

“Billie, it’s me. I know you don’t want to speak to me, but I’m not going to stop trying to get you back. I’m sorry for the way we met and for blackmailing you into being with me. Instead of being the asshole I was, I should have just asked you out and gotten to know you properly. I still would have fallen for you the same way.”

Chapter22

Billie

I pull the blanket tighter around my shoulders. It’s not cold, I just like the comforting feel of the fabric against my skin.

I’m sitting on the back porch looking at the rose garden.

It’s Saturday. I should be at the hospital, but I can’t go anywhere where I’m supposed to act like I’m okay.

I’m not. In some ways, I’m worse than I was before Mom told me the truth, but in other ways, I’m not.

Knowing Mom was my protector this whole time gives me some assurance, but I feel terrible for the way I’ve behaved. All she’s ever done is love me, and I sided with Dad, who was the real devil all along.

I still can’t wrap my head around it. I was so deluded, so blinded, I couldn’t even see he wasn’t what he showed me.

The floorboards creak and I lift my head to see Cal walking toward me with a tray of chocolate muffins and a steaming cup of hot chocolate.

I straighten as he comes closer and sets the tray down on the little wicker table before me.

“Your mom thought you’d like this.”

“I do. Thanks so much.”

Like Mom, he’s come to check on me a lot over the last two days, but this is the first we’ve spoken. I was either lying in bed crying or half asleep.

I haven’t said much since I broke down. I have questions. I just haven’t had the strength to ask them.

He pulls up the little chair and sits in front of me.

“How are you doing?” He asks.

“I’ve seen better days.” I smile when he taps my head. “Thank you, Cal. Thank you for everything and for taking care of us. You know Mom told me everything.”

---