Page 98 of A Lie so Dangerous and Fragile

“Yes, with Sofie’s dad, but he told me to get rid of it. I lied to him that I did, but …”

Oh my God, she was sleeping with her best friend’s father? Could she get any worse?

“I don’t care about your relationship. I just want to know, why? Why would you do that to me? And you stood there and watched Mom and Dad think the worst of me!”

“Chloe—”

“Don’t you dare say my name!” I snapped, hitting the table with my palm.

Ciara looked around us, and I realized where we were, but it didn’t soothe my anger.

“How could you fucking do that to your own sister?”

“Because you’re the fucking black sheep of the family so it wouldn’t come as a surprise, and it would be much easier for Mom and Dad to accept it,” she admitted, and I sat there, stunned and speechless.

“I’m the well-mannered golden child, Chloe. While you were busy dragging our family’s name through the mud, I worked my ass off, trying to be the one to make up for all your mistakes. You got away with every awful thing you did while I—” She stopped talking because I’d poured my mint water on her face.

“Fuck you!” I stood up and walked away with shaky legs.

I wanted to burn the whole world down, bring hell on earth just so Ciara could suffer. Her words sank deep into my soul, and it became difficult to inhale oxygen. I tried not to cry as I walked down the street, packed with people. I wiped away the lone tear that had rolled down my right cheek.

Don’t cry, damn it!

I needed a place to scream, to cry and punch something just to feel relieved because waves of dark and intense emotions were building up inside me. I couldn’t believe she had done that and tried to justify her actions. Why did I even try?

I stopped at an alleyway and dialed Vina’s number as silent tears streamed down my cheeks. It went to voice mail, but I kept trying. I needed to vent to someone and release all my emotions. I just needed to talk to someone. I couldn’t hold this inside of me; it hurt. I leaned on the dirty wall and cried, unable to stop the tears.

I got myself together and called a cab. I decided to go to the diner. I didn’t want to be around the kids with all the negative emotions pent-up inside of me. The driver looked concerned as he heard me sniffling.

“Breakup,” I said, and he nodded.

My manager was surprised to see me early for my shift, but he didn’t complain for the extra hand. I planned on working the whole day till I forgot what had happened with Ciara. I didn’t talk much to anyone, and the stupid high school boys who always tried to flirt with me kept their lips shut when they saw the expression on my face. I lost count of the number of people who kept telling me to smile.

My coworkers asked among themselves, “What’s wrong with her?”

Somehow hearing the twins’ voice over the phone and Tristan narrating the story of Kayden getting his leg stuck between the crib made me laugh, and it got me through the rest of my shift. It was pouring outside by the time my shift was supposed to be over. I helped Jules lock up and walked through the rain to the bus stop. I should have brought an umbrella.

This afternoon’s event kept flashing through my head, and hot anger consumed my insides. I wrapped my arms around myself as I kept walking in the rain.

“Fuck you, Ciara. Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, fuck …” I stopped with the curses as a car pulled beside me on the curb.

I recognized the black BMW and knew who it was. I watched the window roll down.

“Get in,” Tristan said, moving closer to open the door for me. “Please,” he added when I stood there, motionless, hesitating. “I swear to God if I have to come out and carry you inside, I will,”

I was all soaked from the rain, and I could feel the goose bumps multiplying on my skin. My flimsy uniform did little to protect me from the cold. I entered the car and ruined the beautiful leather seat with my wet clothes. He gave me the jacket behind his seat, and I wasted no time in wearing it.

“Thanks,” I mumbled.

“Were you really planning to walk all the way to the bus stop in the rain?”

I said nothing, wrapping my arms around myself as he put on the heater and moved the vent my way.

“You would’ve gotten sick or worse.” He sounded pissed.

“Why do you care?” I snorted.

“Why wouldn’t I fucking care?” he said, his jaw tense and fingers clenching the wheel. “Jesus, Chloe.” He sighed, more worried, like I’d just drunk poison.

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