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She looks nervous as hell, as she should be. I know her secret, and I still haven’t figured out what the fuck I’m going to do. I mean, do I say something? All that’s going to happen is they’re going to shoot the messenger—a.k.a.me.

“Hi, Thalia. I’m just here to pick up Zeus. Seb was going to come but he had a last second meeting with his agent,” she explains quickly, watching me nervously.

“Let me grab his stuff quick.” I brush past her without a second glance, because I don’t trust what is going to come out of my mouth.

Kiera follows, but lingers to wait on the front porch while I grab the bag of Zeus’s things. “Thanks for watching him,” she says awkwardly, and I scratch Zeus on the top of his head.

“I didn’t do it for you.” Even I’m a little taken aback by the harshness of my voice, and I’m the one who said it. I can’t let myself feel bad, because I’m not the one who screwed up. “We were hiking, and he got into a cocklebur bush along the trail. I tried to get as many out as I could, but I didn’t get all of them.”

“Whatever you’re thinking about me, please know that I’m thinking worse things about myself.”

Is it too late to yellfuck you, I’m keeping the dog?Did she even hear what I just said about Zeus, or is she too damn worried about what I could do to blow up her perfect life?

I cross my arms over my chest, mostly to ensure I keep my hands to myself. “Look, it’s none of my business what you choose to do. I don’t care why you cheated, because it’s not like you can take it back now. What I don’t understand is how you can still marry Sebastian when he doesn’t know the truth about what happened while he wasn’t home.”

For fuck’s sake, it sounds to me like she let him apologize for everything he didn’t tell her, and then went on a vacation with him.

“Don’t act like you’re so much better than me, Thalia. He kept the full extent of what happened between you guys a secret for our entire relationship. You let him do it too! All of you did! I know I messed up, but it was a mistake.”

My mind might actually be broken because she’s actually trying to defend cheating on her fiancé. I guess perfect Kiera isn’t so damn perfect after all.

“For the record, I told him to tell you on many different occasions. That’s what we were fighting about the night of that stupid dinner party.” Among other things, but I don’t want to think about that.Out of sight, out of mind.I’m so angry right now, my body is shaking. I could scream. “I know Bash fucked up by not telling you, and he knows it too. But his reasons, as stupid as they were, existed because he was worried about how you would handle it. Clearly, he was right to worry, because you immediately ran back to the houseSebastianowns and fucked another man. You made the conscious decision to cheat, so I don’t feel bad for you. He lovesyoufor some godforsaken reason I can’t understand, but now you get to live with the guilt of your choices.”

Her face pales, my words piercing through her stupid reasoning.Good. Kiera should feel guilty. “What would you do if you were in my situation, and you found out this huge secret he’d been keeping?”

I shake my head, a dark chuckle coming from me. “I haven’t been in your exact position, but I have been there with him on the secret keeping. I was mad as hell when I found out the truth, but never once did I consider fuckingsomeone else for revenge. That is the difference between me and you.” Sure, I didn’t react well back then, but I didn’t want anyone else.

“You’re such a bitch,” Kiera says, blinking back her tears as Zeus paws at the door to go back inside.

“I am a bitch, but a bitch who has had enough of your bullshit. I quit. I don’t care about the deal I made with Sebastian; I’m not going to photograph your wedding. Good luck finding someone last second.”

The look on her face is identical to when I caught her with that guy. “No, you can’t.Please, Thalia, I will do anything,” she begs, yet I’m not exactly in the forgiving kind of mood today.

“If you tell Sebastian about that guy, I’ll do it. Except, I think we both know that as soon as you tell him, your relationship is over. So I guess that means I quit.” I stand my ground, firm on my stance about her telling him, because I know I won’t be able to. I watched his heart break at the same time mine did when I told him not now. I refuse to see that expression on Sebastian’s face again. This will break him. “Tell Sebastian I’m keeping the damn dog, and if he wants Zeus back so badly, he can come get him himself.”

I turn away from her to return inside with Zeus when she calls out meekly after me. “Did you tell anyone?”

I’m not sure why I’m surprised.

“Goodbye, Kiera. Don’tevercontact me again,” I say firmly, slamming the door in her face. I lean against the wall, running my hand down my face as Zeus licks at my cheeks. Damn, it felt good to quit. I should have done that weeks ago, and I could have avoided this whole mess.

I should have listened to Blake and Penelope when they told me it was a terrible idea. I’ve put up with so much shitsince agreeing, but I refuse to stand by and watch him marry her now.

I know I’m going to catch major hell for this, but I pull my phone out of my pocket to send Sebastian a text. I’m sure Kiera will spin it in whatever way fits her narrative and how I’m such a bitch, but at least I’m not a cheater.

Thalia:I quit, and I’m keeping Zeus. Please leave me alone.

Not even a minute after I hit Send, my phone is ringing with a call from Sebastian. He can believe what he wants, because I don’t think he’ll believe me. Even if he does, and I tell him what actually happened, I’ll look like the jealous ex-girlfriend trying to break up his engagement. Bash deserves to know, but it’s not my place to tell him. I decline it and turn my phone off immediately.

Zeus plops down in my lap, his tongue hanging out of his mouth happily.

Quitting the wedding and keeping my dog are the best decisions I’ve made in a long time.

What happens to Sebastian Walker isn’t any of my business anymore.

~

I’m baking cupcakes for Zeus when Penelope gets home. The music is playing loudly, and I’m havingfun. Turning my phone off was a great choice. Baking certainly isn’t my strong suit, but Zeus isn’t complaining about the ones I’ve let him sample.

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