Page 52 of Unhinged Love

It’s not like Wren looks any happier with me as we walk into the living room, but at least she doesn’t snarl at me like a rabid animal. Instead, she sits on the sofa and crosses her legs under her before folding her hands in her lap. “Okay. You’re here. What is it you want to say?”

Straight to it. The back of my neck prickles, and my skin feels cold and a little sweaty. “I need your help. You both know it was Tiana who sent those pictures around. I was unconscious. I didn’t have a clue she was doing it, I swear.”

“But you realize she wouldn’t have gotten the idea to do it in the first place if you didn’t make it seem like it was okay to bully Elliana. Right? You understand that?” Wren asks while Maya smirks at me.

“I know. And I already told her to cut it with that shit,” I insist. Just the thought of it makes my blood boil. “I warned her to leave Elliana alone, or she would have to deal with me, but she did it anyway.”

“Because she’s twisted,” Wren mutters. Her lip curls in disgust before she exchanges a look with Maya, who pretty much wears the same expression.

“Fine.” Maya shrugs, glancing toward Wren once she flops onto the sofa next to her. “Good for you. You’re not a completely heartless bastard. Only somewhat.”

“You shouldn’t have had those pictures of her in the first place,” Wren reminds me, like she needs to. Like I don’t already know.

I have to deliberately bite back that comment, since I’m lucky they even want to talk to me. “Listen, for what it’s worth, I’m ashamed of myself now.”

“Now,” Maya repeats before her lips thin out until I can barely see them.

“Maybe you should’ve thought of that sooner,” Wren murmurs. The disappointment in her voice is heavy enough thatI want to run away from it. That’s not what I do. I don’t run away.

But I’ve never been through anything like this before, either. I don’t know how to feel or why all of these conflicting thoughts are running through my head in the first place. It’s a lot to wrestle with.

“You’re right,” I agree, nodding, folding my hands behind my back as I stand in front of them. Like the accused, standing in front of the jury. Only I don’t think the jury is supposed to flat-out look like they can’t wait to fry the accused. “I should’ve thought about it. I should’ve thought about a lot of things. I can’t take any of it back now, though I wish I could. You have no idea how much I wish I could.”

“Because your parents are going to come back from their honeymoon, eventually?” Damn, Maya is determined to not give a single inch. She’s looking for a fight, her shoulders hunched around her ears, glaring coldly at me.

“I hadn’t thought about it until now. But no,” I tell her, shaking my head, “this isn’t about them. It’s about hoping I can get through to Elliana.”

“Why? What for?” Wren asks.

“What you did is despicable,” Maya whispers, and now her voice trembles. Like all this time, she’s been trying to hold back her real emotions.

“Because there is no way she would have let you take those pictures if you’d asked her,” Wren points out, not like she needs to.

“I know, I know,” I groan, scrubbing my hands through my hair before letting my arms drop to my sides again. “Look, you can cut off my balls and roast them in the oven if you want to, but let’s do that later. Right now, I need to figure out how to get through to her. I need her to understand I never would’ve donethat, that I’m sorry it happened, and I wish I could do something to take it all away.”

Wren’s eyes narrow. “Have you thought about telling her all of this yourself?”

“I did already.” The girls exchange a look that makes me groan again. “I’m serious.”

“And?” Maya prompts.

“And I ended up coming over here. Obviously, it didn’t go all that well. She understands I didn’t send the pictures out, but she won’t forgive me.”

With a soft snort, Maya mutters, “Good for her. I’m glad she’s standing up for herself.”

“But she has to forgive me,” I blurt out, making both girls widen their eyes. “That’s why I need your help. I need you guys to talk to her for me.”

“Oh, please.” Maya even claps as she laughs loudly at me. “You’ve gotta be kidding. You want us to convince her to forgive you and act like this didn’t happen?”

“I don’t expect she could act like it didn’t happen. I know she can’t forget about it. And I know shit is going to be tough for her, at least for a little while.”

“Yeah, you think?” Maya snaps. No more laughter. She’s too busy looking like she is considering cutting my balls off here and now instead of waiting.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not going to betray her that way, which is exactly what I would be doing if I tried to talk her into letting this go. You’ve violated her,” she reminds me in a trembling voice. “And we are her friends. What you’re talking about sounds like gaslighting.”

“It’s not!” I didn’t want to start a fight, but everybody has their limit. “Fuck, are you seriously going to sit there and pretend like either of your boyfriends didn’t fuck with you like it was their mission in life? But that didn’t stop you from forgivingthem, did it? Moving in with them, having a relationship with them?”

Shit. I only realize when Wren’s eyes pop open wide that I said too much.

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