Page 21 of Bittersweet Revenge

“So how did that happen?” I asked Taylor as soon as we set our tray on our usual table.

She looked around ensuring we were out of earshot. “Why are you so surprised? You suggested it.”

I snorted.” As a joke, yeah. I didn’t think it would happen.”

She shrugged. “It almost happened… naturally.” She cocked her head to the side, taking a drink of her Coke. “Archie was becoming a bit too present in my life after you were gone, you know for messages and stuff.”

I nodded. I’d been grateful when she’d offered to relay messages to my brother while I’d been away, knowing all the bad blood between them.

“Yeah and I thought I was emotionally equipped to deal with him. Turned out I was not as strong as I thought I was.” She looked away and I was way too familiar with the shine I could see in her eyes.

“Then one day I was just getting in my car after school and out of nowhere Antoine hopped in. He told me about the conversation he had caught between your father and his and... I’m not sure what happened really. I missed you. Archie was messing with my head again and then…” She shrugged again, her cheeks turning red.

“There is no shame in breaking down every once in a while, Taylor. We’re human.”

“Yeah…” she gave me a side smile. “Anyway, I broke down, telling him I knew the truth about him and he gave me a hug and it felt so good – so comforting. People saw us and the next day, the rumor mill was going full force.” She sighed. “Anyway, that night he took me out for dinner and we just connected, you know? Him dating me made his father ecstatic, as you can imagine.”

I snorted, shaking my head. This society was so backward.

“It was a way for him to protect me too. His father would never do anything which might hurt our relationship.”

“Smart move,” I conceded.

“And in the end this relationship is one of the best and truest I have ever had.”

I frowned. Was Antoine bi?

“It’s not what you think,” she quickly added, probably seeing the confusion on my face. “The thing is,” she leaned closer, almost whispering. “Because sex is off the table, we can be completely ourselves,you know, and we do have an intimacy which I think is greater. I just…” she shrugged. “I don't hate it.”

I nodded, not really sure how that all worked, but if she was happy...

“I’m happy if you’re happy,” I said. “But I fear it is just a way to keep Archie at bay.”

“It is, in a way,” she admitted. “I’ll tell you one day.” She reached for my hand across the table and squeezed it. “I missed you, truly, and I’m sorry about the circumstances that brought you back here, but we’ll figure it out and then you’ll be free to leave again.”

“Yeah.” I smiled, but I wasn’t sure I’d leave again. The terrifying part was that it was not because they would prevent me, but because I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

Chapter 7 - Esme

“Antoine needs to see you in the student council room about that French assignment,” Taylor announced as she came to stand beside me.

Suddenly, all the weariness I’d felt over the last week of living with Caleb and being thoroughly ignored, lifted, and the excitement at having a lead – any lead at this point – felt like a gift.

I looked around and met Caleb’s eyes at the end of the corridor. It felt like he was always spying on me, trying to find anything wrong. I lifted my gaze and quickly met my brother’s; he rolled his eyes, and that made me smile.

Caleb’s scowl deepened as he looked from Archie to me. We should have been more careful about displaying the extent of our attachment, but my father thought it was a trick played by Archie to fool me. As for Caleb, Archie said he was too smart to be fooled.

Caleb said something to my brother before walking toward me.“Esmeralda, I’ve been informed by Saint-Vincent that he is tutoring you in French. When were you planning on telling me?”

Why did he have to be so formal all of the time?

I was about to snap that he was not my guardian and that I didn't have to tell him everything, but Archie threw me a warning look, so I swallowed my pride. I wondered how long I could keep doing this before I snapped or choked.

“I’m sorry, but it is during school hours and therefore doesn't affect our schedule, and it’s not like I see you much around the house to exchange pleasantries.”

Sorry Archie, I just couldn't contain that jab.

Caleb’s nostrils flared. “Even so, this is the kind of thing I must be informed of.”

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