Page 52 of Careless

Examining the tense set of my jaw, Sophia realizes this isn’t going to happen. She’s pulling on her discarded clothes when I ask, “Why would you think that?”

“She showed up while you were in the shower. She looked really upset. I asked her if she needed anything. She said it wasn't important and left.” With that, Sophia struts out the door with her shoes and phone in hand like she didn’t just seriously screw shit up for me.

Shit. Fuck. Shitfuck.

I know why Sorcha was upset. It had nothing to do with Nigel or Carmen. It’s because she saw Sophia fucking naked in my bed. She jumped to the logical conclusion that I’d probably fucked Sophia.

Snatching my phone off the bedside table, I call Sorcha, but the phone rings twice before it goes to voicemail. I call two more times in quick succession, but it ends with the same result. She’s avoiding me and I don’t blame her. This is my fuck up. I shoulder the blame here.

While deciding what my next move is, a text comes through from my girl.

Sorcha

You’re such a fucking liar. Good thing I learned that before I fucked you. Leave me alone.

Fuuuck.

I haven’t been with anyone except her since that night I found her running in the middle of the night. I didn’t lie about that. That night changed everything like I knew it would. Once she was in my bed and in my arms, I knew no one else would ever be good enough and I couldn’t hold back any longer.

She’s stubborn as a mule. She won’t listen much less believe what I have to say and I don’t blame her. I have to wait until she’s ready and that absolutely sucks because it means unnecessary pain.

Still, it doesn’t stop me from sending a text back.

Rian

She showed up when I was in the shower. I swear I didn’t touch her. The only one I want to touch is you. Come back so we can talk. Please.

Just like I expected, she never replied to my text nor did show up. I washed my sheets to get out any trace of Sophia while I waited. I don’t want my bed smelling like any girl that’s not Sorcha. So I sit there all day praying into insanity. I made my bed, I guess I deserve to lay in it, too.

CHAPTERTWENTY

HER

Ilove the spooky season. I’ve always been enamored with pretending to be someone else, someone forged from another person’s imagination. I used to always look forward to Halloween, but this year is different. This year I’m going to the annual Halloween party at Duncan’s house and who is my chaperone this time?

Rian fucking Walsh.

Just because he’s coming with me doesn’t mean I have to talk to him. I’m not on speaking terms with that lying jackass and I don’t expect that to change anytime soon. I can handle a lot of things. I can stand hateful words, things done to spite me, but one thing I can’t stand is a liar.

Rian tried to lie his way into my pants. He tried to manipulate me, and when it didn’t work, he called Sophia to fill his bed.

I put so much trust in him that after this fuck up I almost put my life in a tailspin because of him.

“This is exciting!” Kia shrieks as she bounces into my bathroom. Her witch costume is very sexy, but luckily, it meets school dress code or I’d tell her to put some shorts on under it. A lot of the students like to dress up for the school day when it lands on Halloween. I’m sure I’ll have to touch everything up before the party at Duncan’s tonight, but there’s plenty of time to do so.

Our costumes aren’t that different. Francine helped me design mine. I wanted a sexy Morticia Addams look, but one that wasn’t too risque for school. She’s incredible at costume design.

I still can’t wrap my head around us being half-sisters, and I wish I could share my newly discovered relationship with her. Now that I know, I guess I see a resemblance. We have the same jawline and lips. My nose is a little smaller and her eyes are a little bigger. She takes after her mom a lot and I look too much like Carmen.

“You’re thinking about him again, aren’t you?” Kia asks as she frowns.

I’m constantly thinking about Rian. I don’t know what pisses me off more: what he did or that I can’t stop thinking about him, even if just by proxy. I think of Francine being my sister and it connects back to Rian getting that information out of Carmen. He’s everywhere, and I can’t escape him.

“Who?” I lie as I finish applying my black lipstick and top it with my glittery lip-gloss.

“You know who.” She frowns at me in the mirror before crossing her arms. “I’m your best friend, and I don’t think I’d be doing my job as your best friend if I didn’t say—”

“You’re taking his side,” I groan.

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