Page 37 of King of My Heart

“You need to stop calling me,” she hisses through the phone. “This isn’t a game, Rose. I’m engaged.”

“What?” My confusion makes me feel dumb. That never happens.

“I know…” She huffs, and I can imagine the way she runs her hand through her hair and scratches her scalp like she does when she’s thinking. “I know what you’re thinking. Now that you’re back, we can pick it up where we had left it–”

“Of course. What else,” I growl.

“I can’t. I’m with Conor.”

“Yeah, who cares? Leave him.”

“I can’t, Rose.”

I can’t help but break into a laugh. This is ridiculous. “You don’t love him. You’re not even attracted to him.”

“You weren’t here for two years. And I don’t expect you to understand, but I need you to accept my choice. It doesn’t mean I don’t want to see you. You know I do. I just…”

“You what?” I scoff. “Want to play the role of the housewife? And what does that make me? Your little secret?”

Her silence says it all.

“I can’t fucking believe you,” I seethe.

“I’ve shared you the entire time we were in high school. So don’t be a hypocrite. It’s your turn.”

“I’m not playing the role of the secret lover while Conor gets you every day,” I growl.

“For now, it’s that or nothing. You choose.”

“Don’t fucking do this to me. Don’t give me an ultimatum.”

“What? You mean like the exact same thing you used to do to me? ‘Love me but let me break up with you when I want to see another girl. And make sure to wait for me for when I want you back.’”

“That’s not how I talk,” I tell her, having no other point to argue with. I can imagine her shaking her head at me. “Fine,” I spit. “For now. Justfor. Now.Alright?”

“Thank you,” she whispers.

And she hangs up on me before I can even add anything else.

I finish my cigarette, angry and jealous of Conor, who gets to keep her close. I send her a text, telling her that this won’t last. She probably won’t even see it.

Then I make my way back to one of the Murrays’ cars that I’ve been using. Not exactly a genius idea to bring a Mercedes GLS to the North Shore, but I’m glad it’s still here by the time I come back to it.

A car drives toward me slowly until it stops right next to mine. I crack my neck, trying to ignore the anxiety brewing in my stomach. The window goes down, and Lik’s smile is pure perfection as the opening reveals his face.

“Don’t tell me you’re already ditching my party.”

“Is it your party? Or Billie’s?” I grumble as I grab another cigarette.

“Same difference. She’s my stepsister.”

“Lovely,” I murmur bitterly as I search for my lighter. “I’m not in a mood to party, and Billie and I aren’t exactly besties. Thanks for the invite, though.”

He nods to himself, watching me light up my cigarette. “Okay. What are you in the mood for, then?”

I raise an eyebrow at him. The truth? Rachel. I tell him something different. “Fries.”

He looks at me in surprise, then bites his lip to avoid laughing. How can someone be so cute and handsome? “I’m not gonna lie,” he tells me. “You don’t exactly look like a girl who loves eating.”

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