Page 96 of Chaos Kills

“I need at least two months, Nes. Let me find a place big enough for all of us, and I’ll send for you. All you need to do is keep your ass out of trouble and let me handle the rest.”

“Levi doesn’t want me there,” she imparts. “He’s made that shit perfectly clear.”

“No,” I counter with another shake of my head. “If he said it, he was mad. He’s been under a lot of stress lately and?—”

“We don’t need to do this.” She shifts in her spot, alluding that she’s getting antsy. “I don’t need your broken vows and silly-ass ideas to make me feel better about it. I know what this is, and you don’t need to lie to me.”

“I’m notlying,” I rebuke sharply. “My God, what the fuck is wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?”

“Likewhat?” she shoots back with an even shitty tone. “You’re not for me. You’ve never been here for me.”

“Are you fuckin’ craz?—”

“It’s always been Levi. He has always come before me. I was just the third wheel when he wasn’t around. You come when you need girl time and when you can’t tell Levi something because he’ll lose his shit.”

“Nessa—”

“No,” she carps out. “Just admit it, Bay. I’m second place. You need to leave, and I get to stay. When you get settled, you’re not gonna need me.”

“Of course, I’m going to need you,” I argue. “You’re my best friend.”

She glowers at me. “No, I’m not. You have your best friend, and he’s gonna be there. And then you’re gonna live happily ever after?—”

“Stop being like this. You’re being a bitch, and you know damn well how I am. I’m loyal to a fault. I’ve always had your fuckin’ back.”

“But not this time, right? Not when you’re leaving with Levi. When you two come up with a plan to leave me behind?—”

“This isn’t us cutting you out.” I glower at her. “Damn, Nessa, I knew you were a needy bitch, but this takes the cake. I wouldn’t be havin’ this conversation to blow smoke up your ass, just to waste time. I have other things to do?—”

“Then go ahead and do them,” she concludes, sliding out of her seat and to her feet. “I’m done with this shit.”

I mock her actions because I am famous for having the last word. “Don’t go walkin’ away when I’m not done settlin’ this.”

She waves her hot pink manicured nails at me, and I’m surprised she doesn’t use them to claw my eyes out. “Nah, sis, we’re done. Don’t fuckin’ bother reachin’ out to me anymore.”

I honestly can’t believe this.

After everything we’ve been through together, this is how it ends? Nessa throwing a hissy fit and not, at least, trying to understand what I’m saying?

It’s not rocket science, and I know I’m not being over the top here. Ellie’s and Mae’s safety has to be my top priority at all times. I would never be able to live with myself if I let Dad down and didn’t take care of them.

“Go cool off,” I rebuke, following her out of the coffee shop. “You obviously didn’t put your big girl panties on when you decided to come talk to me.”

Nessa rounds on me and immediately gets into my personal space. She’s about an inch and a half taller than me, but it doesn’t mean anything. I’d still knock her shit out.

“I will drop you right here, bitch, if you keep taunting me. I’m not the one.”

“I’m not the one throwin’ a fuckin’ fit like a little bitch, right now.Youare.”

“Fuckyou, Bay,” Nessa spits out through clenched teeth. “You’re such a selfish cunt. Go have fun wherever you’re going. Don’t write.”

Pressing my lips together, I don’t get that last word.

I freely give it up, because any more out of me is going to have the two of us throwing punches. I’d rather not ruin everyone else’s afternoon here.

It won’t be pretty.

And there’ll be damages to pay for that I can’t afford to spend.

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