Page 226 of Swallow Your Sorries

“You do realise I can just make you disappear for the play right?” I ask darkly. “You, a little pocket person, have come here, all alone and no one knows where you are. I doubt you told Stassi or Elle about our little meetings.”

“I didn’t,” she admits. “But there is someone who’d search high and low for me, including checking your innards if it came to it. You don’t know Étienne like I do. The things he’d do to you would be unimaginable.”

I think of the petty prank of the spiders in my gym bag. That's just a taste of Étienne’s derangement as far as Aria is concerned, regardless of whatever he has going on with Rin.

“But you just said Étienne isn’t here.”

“For now.”

“He always comeshome?” I snort. “Is that it? Does that make you feel better?”

“I’m trying to help you feel better, Gant.”

“What if I don’t want to feel better?” I snap and at her softened expression, I grow harder. “Just forget about Elle. Or what? Don’t tell me you’re besties now?”

“No. But I’m your bestie.”

I snort.

“I said I was yours. Not that you were mine. Think about it. Who do you always call for these little bullshit favours and schemes? Forget about Elle. I’m talking about since we were in primary school. Admit it, I’m your favourite.”

“And yet I’m not yours?” I say sourly. “Is that why you came running barefoot to my penthouse that night?”

“Your penthouse is in the opposite tower of mine and Étienne’s,” she points out then rolls her eyes. “If we’re talking strictly platonically then yes. I suppose in this instance Étienne wouldn’t count. Neither will Elle once you get over yourself. That’s why I’m doing this, Gant. Not for Elle. For you.”

“For me?”

“Let me be your excuse. Your out.”

“I don’t need an out.”

“You do if you want to keep her for good. Just admit that this revenge is all about you getting the last laugh. All about taking your anger and pain out on someone who doesn’t deserve it. Someone who can’t undo the past because it’s already been written.”

I turn my back to her and she follows me, gazing up at me with those big blue-green eyes so identical to Étienne’s it’s uncanny.

But there’s a difference in the emotions floating in them. Lately, Étienne’s has been nothing but an impenetrable wall. Aria’s is so full of emotion they’re like damn portals into her soul and it makes me wonder why she cares so fucking much.

Friends.

Because we’re actual friends.

Still, there’s more.

“You wish you could be us,” I say lowly and Aria grows rigid, before swallowing. “You think it’s easy to just get over what happened to my mother?”

“I never said to just get over it. I said stop blaming the only person who’s turning you back into yourself. And I don’t wish I were you. I wish I had an easier boundary.”

“Than betrayal?”

“Try relation.”

I look to Étienne’s bed then sink onto the edge of mine and Aria follows suit.

“Your situation isn’t impossible like mine. You’re only making it impossible by holding this grudge. You say you don’t want to feel better, but getting payback on Elle won’t make you feel better either so why do it? You still won’t win. You’ll have both lost and you’ll end up even more miserable than you are now.”

“You’re one to talk about misery lately.”

She sucks her teeth. “You know what? Do whatever the fuck you want, but do it without that box. Give it to me.Now.You’ll thank me later.”

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