Page 29 of Girl Like Me

He turns back to face me. His phone stops ringing before he answers. “I know.” With that his phone starts ringing again and this time he answers, his voice powerful and clear. “Speak to me.” He demands before walking out the door.

I flop back onto my bed with an irritated growl. The more I find out, the more questions I have. I need to talk to Lissa, she might be able to shed some light on why she lied to me. I won’t lie, it hurts. I can’t tell Levi, I don’t know if he would be able to handle finding out, he would see it as betrayal. I doubt she would’ve been allowed to say anything, but for whatever reason she kept it from me, I hope there’s a damn good reason.

I avoid going downstairs the rest of the night. How do I face my family when my mother, brother and father all think I killed my own brother. Why am I really here if that’sthe case. I know they don’t think highly of the police and would never turn me in, so what’s the real reason?

I spend the time by myself and recollect all the things I know about Bristol so far.

She was a bitch of epic proportions.

Her boyfriend benefitted her for some reason, was it to please my mum or uncle?

Her brother is dead, she possibly killed him but there is no body yet.

Lissa knew I was a Montgomery but kept that information hidden. Does she know I supposedly killed my brother or was it for a different reason?

She was a daddy’s girl, and her uncle loves her just as much.

Carter’s a dick but that could just be how people from here act.

A whole bunch of helpful information that raises more questions. At least one good thing came from all of this today, I don’t need to sneak around to see the guys. It’ll still be hard because of the distance but I’m sure we can make it work.

I’m glad I never talked to them about seeing other people. Even as selfish as it is since I’m with Sebastian. I plan to fix that tonight at dinner though, it’s public enough that everyone will get the picture. I don’t care how he benefits this family, I never plan to marry the douche. They can set him up with Carter if they need the familiar connection.

Avoiding my family wasn’t something that I thought through for the long term. My mother had my dress for tonight’s dinner sent up about an hour ago, they even dress up for Sunday dinner. Leggings and an oversized hoodie sounds like a suitable outfit choice for Sunday dinner. At Beth’s every Sunday she would cook and every one of her foster kids had an open invite. The guys always made it no matter what they had going on. I met a couple of her other foster kids a few times, but most had grown up and moved out of town, and it was just too far for them to travel. But it was fun and full of laughter, most of the laughter directed at Rocky.

I look at myself in the oversized mirror, everything screams fake and I hate it. My hair, my nails, the makeup, even the dress. It’s so damn short I know if I sneeze my ass will hang out. The lace sleeves are to possibly show that it’s classy or take the focus off my ass. The sound of the doorbell rattles through the walls, that’s my cue to head down and put an end to this charade.

My eyes scan the dining room as I make my entrance. It's filled with people, most of them I don’t recognise. I spot my mother and brother talking to a lady who looks just as stuck up as my mum does. My father and another man are standing with a drink in their hands laughing about something. I glance over at an elderly couple seated at the table already. So much for Sunday dinner.

“There you are.” Sebastian accuses appearing out of nowhere. “It’s about time, we’ve been waiting on you.” He grabs me by the arm tight enough I can feel the searing pain radiating up to my elbow.

“Well here I am.” I snap, yanking my arm from his grip. The lady previously talking to my mother heads in our direction. Sebastian freezes and plasters on a fake smile.

“Bristol, nice to see you back.” She says before we do a two cheek kiss.

“Nice to see you.” I don’t address her by name because I don’t remember her.

“Mum, let’s all take a seat so dinner can get started.” She smiles or what you can class as a Botox smile and leads the way to the table. Before anyone can take a seat there seems to be a commotion coming from the foyer.

“Don’t be absurd!” A deep voice booms through the room. My father makes his way towards the voices. Echo saunters into the room with a natural swagger in his step. I smile when my mother gasps. The whole room is dressed in their finest and in he walks wearing his ADIDAS tracksuit and hat turned sideways. “Yo, B! Looks like we’re just in time for dinner.” He isn’t quiet about his entrance either. Sebastian is at my side, a tight grip on my arm again. Echo looks at where his hand is and up to my face, anger radiating off him in waves.

My mother comes rushing over mortified by the interruption. I’m sure she hasn’t told any of her uppity friends about my uncle and his business dealings. “You need to leave right now young man. You’re interrupting our special dinner.”

“No disrespect Mumma bear but the only thing that needs to happen right now is that preppy asshole taking his hands off your daughter before I break his arm. We don’t need dinner and a show…am I right?” I didn’t realise my mother could actually screw her face up the way it is, with all that botox it’s generally expressionless. She doesn’t get a chance to reply before Sebastian drops my arm and storms off mumbling to himself.

Echo just smiles at me when my father and uncle walk into the dining room together. “Dear, it looks like we have an extra two for dinner tonight.” I count back from three in my head before my mother loses her shit. I’ve figured out fast that tantrums are how she gets her way with my father. This time she looks at my uncle and he gives her a smile that saysdon’t fuck with meand she scowls at him in return.

“Fine.” She huffs and everyone in the room starts to take their seats. I watch as Sebastian takes a seat with his family. He looks at me, expecting me to take a seat beside him. Echo intervenes and seats me between himself and my uncle.

This night suddenly became a lot more fun.

Carter has been awfully quiet tonight. He sits beside our mother, across from us and whispers in her ear. She just nods at whatever he is saying. The little kiss ass.

The women at the table stare at Echo. He leans in and whispers in my ear, “Why are they starin’ at me?”

“You’re not exactly dressed to impress.” He gasps and places a hand over his heart in mock hurt as the masses of gold chains around his neck clink together.

“I don’t know what you mean. This is my best tracksuit.” I laugh, he totally wore that on purpose.

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