Page 68 of Pieces of Us

‘You’ve always thought you’re so much better than everyone else,’ she sneers, her flying spit hitting the side of my face.

I sigh, knowing I’m not going to be able to get away from her until she’s given me a piece of her mind.

‘To be honest, Billie goat, I don’t think about you at all, and I don’t think that about myself. I do think that about you, however.’ I chuck the barbecue Shapes in my basket. ‘I think that you have extremely low self-esteem and haven’t changed your childish antics since high school.’

I hate that I reduce what she did to just high school drama, but I don’t want to give her the satisfaction of knowing just how much she damaged me.

‘Please! You should have seen how devastated you looked when I fucked Linc the other day in his office,’ she scoffs. ‘Same mousey expression you had when he fingered me in the spa, and every other time he chose me over you.’

I stiffen at her explicitness.

Breathing in and out slowly, I remain impassive.

‘I’m sure it was a look of disgust, but the way Linc explained it to me was that you threw yourself on him. Again. And again, he rejected you.’

After everything we’ve been through, Lincoln wouldn’t lie to me again. I’m sure of it.

Several emotions passed Billie’s face. Humiliation. Shame. Aggravation. Hesitation. Anger.

For a moment, her facade slips, but her mask defaults back to pretentious bitch just as quickly. It doesn’t matter, though, because I only needed seconds to know she was lying.

‘You’re so blinded, Amity, that you don’t and never have seen what’s right in front of your face. Lincoln and I will always be out of your league. While you were away sulking, he and I were building our lives together. A family. Our baby. You can’t and never will erase me.’

She is so deluded and broken.

‘I’m sorry that you’re stuck in the past. I’m sorry that everyone has moved on. But really, Bill, I’m sorry that you had to stoop so low and steal someone who was never yours to begin with. Even without me in the picture, you’ll always be second best.’ I keep my voice intentionally low so not a soul but her can hear me.

‘I don’t fucking need your pity or apologies,’ she blisters.

‘Well, you have them regardless. I hope you get the help you need.’ I shake my head in fake sympathy, which enrages her further. ‘Competing with me has made you even crazier than you were in high school.’

The trolley shakes as she tries to reign in her outrage.

‘You can have that fuckwit, for all I care. I’m over him. I got what I wanted and needed,’ she grits, as if this is solely about Lincoln and not the fact that she’s just a mean girl bitch.

‘Okay,’ I say slowly and condescendingly to make her more irate. ‘I don’t mean to point out the obvious, but I will. It seems like you’re still hung up on him, and also maybe have a bit of an obsession with me as well. You’ve made every effort since I’ve been back to try and make me notice you. Far out, you’ve even tracked me down in the grocery store. I have lots of stalkers, but you’re as deranged as they come. I don’t know whether I need to call security on you. For some warped reason, my whole life, you’ve tried to make me miserable with your taunts and games, but I’m sorry to say you’ll never win. I won’t let someone like you fuck with me any longer. I don’t care about you or anything you have to say. You’re irrelevant.’

Her face flushes in embarrassment, eyes darting to the side to see if anyone has overheard my takedown of her.

‘Goodbye, Billie. Have fun living in the past and competing with my ghost.’ I move past her, keeping my face stoic and head held high. I said everything I’ve ever wanted to say to her. Damn, it feels good.

As I hurry up the aisle, I just know she’s standing there, puzzled and furious at my complete and utter rejection of her.

Chapter 28

All My Friends Are Dead

Lincoln

‘Jas. Tell me one more time. Amity’s message specifically said that it was okay for me to tag along?’ I beat my hands on the steering wheel as if they’re a drum, agitated by all this pent up energy.

I haven’t seen Amity since I fucked her. We’ve exchanged a few amicable texts, but I’ve been conscious not to push her. I know she must be feeling all sorts of turmoil. Plus, she’s getting ready for Jagger.

‘Want me to forward you the fucking text?’ she snipes.

Why the hell didn’t I just go with Dad when he offered me a lift earlier?

‘No,’ I bite back.

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