Page 55 of Careless

I try to swerve around him, but he grabs my arm in a vice grip. I’ll surely have bruises. Good thing my sleeves cover it.

“Don’t you dare walk away from me, kid. What the hell were you doing withhim?”

I scowl, on the verge of spitting in his face. “Leave me alone. I’m not talking to you. What I do with my life is none of your business.” After Rian invited Sophia to his bed and lied to me about whoever else he has been screwing, he lost the right to be in my life. I don’t care if I have a gang bang in the middle of the school hallway, it’s not his place to tell me anything.

“If you’d answer my call or not hide when I try to talk to you, you’d know nothing happened with Soph—”

I can’t control my fury any longer and I erupt. “Bullshit!” I slap him across his face. He doesn’t even flinch. I’m not sure if he even noticed by how unaffected his expression is. “I’m not just mad that you fucked her, asshole. I’m mad that you lied to me when you didn’t fucking have to. You lied to my face when you said I was the only one you wanted and when you said you weren’t screwing anyone. Sophia told me that you asked her to meet you at your house, Walsh.” I can barely hold in the tears. I’m not mad that he did it, but that doesn’t mean it hurts any less.

“I didn’t tell her to come over. It was a mistake.”

I huff. “Now the truth comes out.”

“No! I mean, yes, it was a mistake, but not like—”

“Save it, Rian. I don’t want to hear your excuses. You were assigned to take me to the party tonight. After that, never speak to me or look at me ever again. You can go fuck yourself and whoever else you please. Except me.”

I know he could’ve forced me to stay there, but he didn’t. His fingers slowly release their grip on my arm, but before letting me go, he gives me the most heartbreaking look I have ever seen on anyone.

It’s all fake. It’s not real.

If I keep telling myself this, hopefully I will end up believing it.

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

HER

The party is in full swing as I weave through the grinding, drunken bodies. The air is heavy with sweat and cheap beer and I am too sober to be here. Especially when I feel his eyes stabbing into my spine like a hot poker. It’s like he’s spent his entire life doing this—watching me.

“Hey, sis!”

My eyes snap to Tiernan as he appears by my side, a goofy, happy smile on his face.

I miss being like that, just happy and not feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders.

Carmen was right about my dreams, getting more vivid and intense. I’ve barely slept the past week because every time I close my eyes, all I see or feel is fire. Burning hot flames that aim to destroy their target. Last night, a new detail emerged.

A baby. A screaming, crying baby. I can’t see it, but I hear its wails of terror and pain. I keep looking, but get lost in a maze of smoke. The baby needs help, and I don’t know how to save it.

I’m so scared I won’t be able to. I’ve been waking up in a sweat and not being able to go back to sleep.

Tiernan has always called me sis. Colin is the youngest of the bunch so maybe it’s because I’m the only girl in their group. Me, Rian, and Eoghan are the same age. Tiernan is a year older, and Finn is a year older than him. Colin is two years younger than me.

I give him a boop on the nose then ask, “Hey, T. Are you here with Willow?”

“Does a chicken crow?” he jokes as he returns the boop then pops the top of a beer bottle open and hands it to me.

Duncan always has rules for his annual Halloween party. Only bottles and cans are allowed. No kegs. He’s proactive about open containers and drink safety. He’s all about fun.

A voice booms behind me. “Sorcha, hey!” Suddenly, Christian appears with Duncan stumbling behind him. Looks like he got an early start on the drinking before anyone else.

“Hey!” I smile at him as he wraps his strong arms around me in a big hug. I’m consciously aware that not only is Tiernan watching us, and although Christian is hugging me, the physical touch is respectful. “Great party, Duncan.”

He nods, his glassy eyes full of sadness and hope. “Is Francine here?”

My heart hurts a bit for this boy. “No. I think she went to a party in Houston with my brother.”

I feel bad for Duncan. I know he messed up with Francine, and cheating is never okay, but he seems so sad and heartbroken. It's clear he really loved her.

---