Page 161 of Far

“Right, right, the art.” His confidence falters, and there it is—the crack in his façade that lets the light of truth seep through.

“What was the last thing you told me before we would have met in person?”

He shifts uncomfortably. “I told you. I couldn’t wait to see you.”

“You said, ‘Blue will always be my favorite color’.” Chris had never said these words, but Connor did.

“Right, sorry I forgot. The circumstances here aren’t the best. Mary, listen—”

“Are you going to tell me the truth?” My voice cracks, betraying the turmoil inside.

As Chris opens his mouth to answer, I brace myself for—

“I love you. Please, you have to get me out of—”

I slam the phone down, the clatter echoing in the sterile room. My hands tremble, the world tilting on its axis. “You’re not the man I thought you were. You’re just a liar. A fraud.”

Connor is instantly at my side, wrapping me in the warmth of his embrace. I cling to him, vision blurred by tears, as the last remnants of my illusions about Chris fade away into nothing. Months of texting fade into nothing.

“Blue, are you okay?” Connor says.

“Please get me out of here.”

We’re almost at the door when Chris bangs against the glass.

I glance back.

“I knew it. He’s your new boyfriend.” Chris nods towards Connor. “Did he tell you all this? The lies? He’s not who you think, either. He put me in here.” A twisted smile appears on his lips. “Did Lover Boy tell you the truth about what he does?”

“That’s enough,” Connor growls.

“He’s not the white knight you think he is,” Chris says.

“I know. He is not my white knight,” I say.

“See. Don’t go with him, Mary. Get me out. Please.”

I stare at Chris.

Get him out? Is he kidding me? After everything he’s done, after all the lies and manipulation, he has the audacity to ask for my help?

A hysterical laugh bubbles up in my throat. This is so fucked up. Here I am, standing in a prison in fucking Italy, face to face with the man I thought I loved. The man who was going to drug me, kidnap me, do God knows what else to me. And he wants me to save him?

My hands clench into fists, nails digging into my palms. The pain grounds me, keeps me from completely losing my shit. I want to scream, to rage, to smash that glass separating us and wipe that pleading look off his face.

But I don’t. Instead, I suddenly feel nothing. Empty. Like all the emotions I’ve been carrying around for months have evaporated.

God, how could I have been so fucking stupid? How did I fall for his bullshit? I want to kick myself for being so naive and so trusting. But then again, isn’t that what he counted on? Mywillingness to see the good in people, to believe in love and happy endings?

Well, fuck that. And fuck him.

“Blue, let’s get out of here.” Connor’s eyes plead with mine, but I walk back and pick up the phone.

“You’re right. He is no angel, no knight in shining armor. Connor is my stalker. He deceived me by showing up in your place. He fucked me and then left that shitty morning. Months later, he is back in my life and turns it upside down. But he…” loves me, and I love him. “He at least knows what the fuck I like to eat.”

Chris stares at me, not saying anything, as I place the phone with the utmost care back into the holder and turn away.

“Blue.” Connor reaches out, and I sense the hesitation in him, the fear of overstepping.

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