Page 72 of A Shot of Pretty Poison

My heart is breaking for her. I never wanted this. She is mybestfriend. I would throw myself on a blade if it meant protecting her. But I did this. Her entire life is in pieces, and it’s my fault.

She looks so devastated as she sighs. “Just take your friend and go…before she does even more damage.”

Mali goes back into the bar, not wanting to be around me for the first time in our lives. Even when we were younger and we would argue, we still couldn’t stand to be away from each other. We’d sit on opposite sides of the room, with our arms crossed and angry looks on our faces. But we were stillthere. And right now, she doesn’t want me.

I close my eyes and tilt my head toward the sky, feeling the rain hit my face, just as my phone vibrates in my pocket. I have nothing left to give. No emotion left in me after the emotional train wreck things have been since I came back. Nothing surprises me anymore, so when I take out my phone and see a text from our stalker waiting for me, all I can do is sigh.

Secrets never do stay secret for long, and I’m going to love watching yours explode like a ticking time bomb. ;)

Betrayal cuts so damn deep.It goes down to the bone and makes you wonder if you can ever really trust anyone. I was finally starting to figure out if I could ever let my guard down with Laiken again, and then this bomb was dropped right into my lap.

And Mali lit the fucking fuse.

Rage and frustration pump through my veins as everything starts to fall into place. That’s why she came over that morning. That’s how Laiken knew I was looking for her in the first place. The whole fucking time, I thought she was just as hurt as I was. I thought we bonded over the pain of losing someone close to us. I fucking considered her as close to me as Cam is.

But I was just her pet.

The whole time, she was doing her duty to Laiken—watching me and reporting back like a good little spy. I wasn’t allowed to know a goddamn thing about where Laiken was or why she left. But Laiken got to knoweverythingwhile she was gone.

How I was doing.

WhatI was doing.

She got all the updates she wanted, while I got jack shit.

I pull into the nursing home parking lot, knowing this is the one place neither of them would ever follow me. It’s the only place where I can even attempt to get my head on straight. And besides, I need to be near the only woman who’s never stabbed me in the back.

“There’s my favorite boy!” my mom says excitedly when I slip in the room. “I didn’t expect to see you until later.”

“Figured I’d surprise you.” I kiss her forehead and sit on the chair beside her bed. “What’s new over in old people town?”

“Old people town,” she repeats, chuckling softly. “You better watch your mouth, boy.”

“What are you going to do? Sick your nurse on me?” I tease.

“Hey! I’ll have you know that Theresa can be brutal when she wants to be.”

Snickering, I wink at her. “I think I can hold my own.”

She looks so happy as she smiles from ear to ear, but while I’m enjoying spending time with her, my mind always goes right back to everything that just happened. And a mother can tell when something is wrong, so it’s no surprise when she gives me a knowing look.

“So, why are you really here?”

My brows furrow. “What? I can’t come see my mom just because?”

Her smile softens. “Of course you can. You’re always welcome here. But that’s not why you came. Something is bothering you.”

There was a time when I would’ve told her everything. I remember going to her house after Laiken went to the gala at Monty’s house without me. I was so angry, but she calmed me down and explained that all I was doing was letting him win. She’s always been my voice of reason. But since she got sick, I just can’t bring myself to unload on her.

“It’s nothing,” I insist.

“It’snotnothing,” she replies. “I know you, Hayes. I’ve known you since before you were born. You don’t want me to take on your problems when I have enough of my own, but I’ve been doing that for years. It’s part of being a mom. Let me be one while I’m still around to be.”

Oh God.It feels like just another blow to the chest, but she’s right. There’s going to be a time where I don’t have her for this. Why is that just hitting me now?

I let out a heavy sigh, leaning forward and resting my arms on my knees. “Mali knew where Laiken was the entire time she was gone.”

Her brows raise. “Really? And she didn’t say anything?”

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