Page 20 of Fake Maid

“You—you know?”

“Yeah.” The confirmation hits me square in the gut. “I know. I know that you came to work for your sister.” I prowl closer. “I know that you lied to me all day. And then you made her do your dirty work and turn me down so you didn’t have to.”

I spit the last few words, I’m so fucking mad, and she flinches, gaze dropping to the ground. She looks so defeated, so sad, and I want to wrap her in my arms and rock her gently.

I push that urge away. She doesn’t want that from me. So I’ll get my answers and go.

“Why?Why did you lie to me, Billie? At first, I get it—you didn’t want to get your sister in trouble. But after we kissed? After—after everything else? Why?”

“Because I’m a coward.” Despite her words, her voice rings out loud and clear. She scrubs at her cheeks and I realize they’re wet with her tears. Fuck. My hand twitches towards her, but I yank it back. Cross my arms over my chest so I won’t touch where I’m not wanted. The breeze tugs on her red hair, strands floating out of a long braid, and it looks darker in the evening light.

“You’re not a coward,” I scoff. “You waltzed into my mansion like you owned it.”

“That’s different.”

“How?”

“Because I didn’t care then what you thought of me!” She throws her hands up, face etched with misery as she rants on. “Then when we—after everything that happened, I knew I should tell you who I really was. But the thought of your rejection, of-of seeing the exact face you’re pulling now—”

She breaks off, glaring at the sidewalk. Her throat bobs as she swallows. And when she speaks again, her voice is calmer. Measured.

“I’m sorry, Eli. You’re right to be angry. This whole day I’ve made nothing but bad decisions.” She sighs and looks up again, raising her hands. “Please don’t hold this against Coral. It was all my idea. All of it.”

My pulse thumps in my ears. I’m too busy fixating on what she said a moment ago to reply.

My rejection.She couldn’t face my rejection.

“Billie,” I say slowly. “Get in the car.”

“But—”

I yank the door open. “In.”

She scowls and stomps past me, ducking inside, but she can’t hide the spots of color on her cheeks. Billie likes to be bossed around.

I remember. I remember it all.

“Take us home,” I tell the driver, Billie darting a glance at me at those words. I ignore her and press the button to raise the partition. I wait until the divider is completely up and we’ve pulled away from the sidewalk before I turn to her.

She stares back at me, wide-eyed.

I frown. “Put your seat belt on.” I never want to see a cast on her again.

Billie huffs but obeys. I reach over and wind an escaped lock of red hair around my finger. She watches, spellbound, her chest shuddering with each breath as I stroke the pad of my thumb over the glossy strands.

“You still want me,” she whispers, almost to herself.

“Always.”

“Even though I lied to you?”

I smirk, but there’s an edge to my words. “Don’t do it again.”

She shakes her head before I’ve finished talking.

“I won’t. I swear. God, Eli…”

“Yes, Miss Walsh?”

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