Page 48 of Love Me

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

“You call that nothing?” Abi asks me, and guilt pinches at my chest. On the inside, I am screaming in pain, but no one hears that. No one ever hears that.

I have to get out of here, but her nails dig into my elbow.

“He doesn’t deserve your wrath. Don’t make me hurt you.”

“You can try.”

I lift my chin, and our deadly stare-down halts when Bailey starts sobbing. “What happened to you?”

I can’t believe she’s crying because of me.

“Nothing.” I sound like I feel. Numb.

“You’ll ruin everything,” Abigail says.

Everything that mattered is already ruined.

My chest pulses, blood oozing from the slashed skin. Taking two stairs at a time, I stride into my room. Blake is right behind me, following me into the bathroom. He cups his neck with both hands.

“Man, what the fuck?”

I grip the edge of the sink and hunch over. I am so hyped up I’d take this world apart piece by piece to avenge Celine, to cure her of her pain. I know it’s her way of showing me how much I hurt her. I will take her anger until she’s done—until nothing is left of us.

Rummaging through the cabinet, I pull out some disinfectant and tape.

“Man…”

“I can take it.”

“Yes, well, we can’t… How do you think we’ll ever be comfortable leaving you two alone? What if Grandmother finds out.”

I snap my head at him. “She’ll never find out.”

“Protecting your enemy?”

I flinch at the truth of his words. The love of my life turned into the woman set to destroy me. How dramatic, a requiem to failed love.

“This stays between us. We can use it to our advantage, making Grandmother believe there is friction between us.”

“What makes you think Celine will play along?”

“She doesn’t want Grandmother to find out either. We all have our secrets.”

And I will discover hers.

When he leaves, I take a shower and pummel the wall until my knuckles split, cracking like my chest. I want Celine blanketed in my love, my arms, my kisses.

All she wants is fights, tears, and dents.

I treat the wound, hissing but smiling at the name carved into my chest. Wearing my truth feels right. Entering my room, I find Abigail pacing around.

“Bailey cried. I will always trust you, but Celine is out of control, and you still love her too much to see she’s a danger.”

“Bailey needs to toughen up and fast.”

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