Page 67 of Swallow Your Sorries

“I paid for them, so technically they’re mine.You’re mine. And I’ll do whatever the fuck I want with what I own.”

Something flashes in her eyes and I watch her deflate before her lip stiffens and her expression hardens. “I didn’t ask you to pay for shit, so don’t try to throw it in my face, like all that food you ordered your lackeys to waste.”

I blink.

“That’s what bothers you? You were nearly smothered to death and you’re more worried about the waste?”

“Some of us have the foresight to see the impact after the action. Do you even ever think about other people? I used to work…so many people could’ve…” she trails before shaking her head. “Why am I even bothering to explain this to you? You don’t care. You’re disgusting. That wasdisgustingand not because I was the one covered in it.”

“I’m so appalling and yet you’re enjoying being here on my dime now that you know. It must not bother you because you haven’t left.”

Of course, I would never let her leave.

“I’m going to pay you back every single cent of tuition,” she says seriously. “The last thing I want or need is to be indebted to you.”

I snort. “I don’t want your money that you don’t have. Nor am I interested in a nineteen ninety-nine instalment plan that’ll last into our nineties. I told you what I want.”

“You almost had it,” she nods to the water. “My life in the palm of your hand. So why did you save me?”

“I told you I want to thoroughly fuck you and as I’m not into necrophilia, I can’t do that if you’re dead and I’m in jail. So no, it isn’t enough.”

“If that doesn’t qualify for a truce, what the hell does?”

“I promise you’ll find out.”

Elle

I scream, but no sound emerges as I swallow the water. So much water. It’s everywhere, in my ears, stinging my eyes and filling my stomach to the point of bursting. Panic chokes me as I plunge to the bottom of the pool, and then pain blinds me as my feet strike the concrete, bringing me to a spine-shattering halt.

Through the seemingly infinite darkness, a halo of light ignites like a beacon above me. The air ripples through the inky water tantalisingly, letting me know that it’s just there, just on the other side. All I have to do is emerge and inhale it.

But my throbbing feet are like two anchors tethering me.

“Mummy will come soon.” My childhood voice rings in my head. “She always does when it grows black.”

Darkness is creeping into my vision once more and this time, I know it has nothing to do with my murky surroundings.

My body’s given up. I can’t withstand the water’s crushing pressure any longer and yet Mum isn’t breaking through the water’s surface to rescue me.

“Gant!” my mind screams hopefully, almost longingly. “This is the moment when Gant pulls me to safety.”

My slowing heart ticks out the remaining seconds with finality.

No one’s coming.

I have to rescue myself.

I have to…

The darkness claims me with a smothering embrace.

I bolt upright and gasp for air, my fingers tearing at the collar of my pyjamas. Buttons go flying and I breathe easier, as if the loose fabric had somehow been constricting my airflow.

Panting like a dog, I climb out from the smothering warmth of the duvet, but it isn’t enough.Air!I need air.

Unlatching the window pane beside the bed, I push it open and propel myself onto the graphic tile of the tiny balcony, landing on my already bruised hands and knees. Pressing my head against the cool metal bars of the railing, I try to steady my breathing.

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale.

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