Page 310 of Filthy Elites

“I can’t do that right now,” he says carefully.

I pry his fingers off my jaw and back away from him. “You mean you don’t want to.”

“No, I mean Ican’t.It’s complicated. Getting out of a relationship with Anae isn’t that simple. Her attachment to me isn’t emotional, but I’m a significant part of her identity and the life she wants. She gives me the leeway she does because she thinks it will keep me around. She doesn’t understand things like love, she understands transactions. I fit the image she wants to be associated with. Just because she doesn’t love me does not mean she’ll let me go.”

I shake my head because that sounds like utter bullshit.

“I know how this sounds,” he says, seeming to realize I’m not buying it. “You don’t know her, Aubrey. You don’t know what she’s like. No one does.”

“You do,” I state.

He straightens and stares down at me. For a moment, he’s wordless, then he says, “Yes, I do.”

“Why? If she’s such a fucking mystery to everyone, why doyouget her?”

“Because we’re similar.”

I hate that.

“And because we’re similar, she feels more comfortable being open with me about certain things. She knows I won’t judge her.”

I cross my arms, loathing this secret club they’re in together.

“And because I know how she thinks,” he says, pulling me out of my defensive stance and taking my hand, “I can tell you with absolute certainty that if I break up with her right now to be with you, I would be putting you in danger. I like to think I could outsmart her and keep you safe, but that’s not a chance I’m willing to take when there are better options on the table.”

My eyes widen.

What?

Like… danger, danger?

“What… do you mean?” I ask uncertainly. “I mean, she’s horrible, but… she’s not dangerous.”

He doesn’t appear to agree, but he doesn’t explain why. His hand tightens on mine. “I need to leave you out of this, Aubrey. There’s stuff you don’t know, stuff you don’tneedto know. This web was tangled long before you fell into it. It didn’t bother me before, but now…” He drops his gaze for a moment, then looks back into my eyes. “I’m working on getting out, but it’ll take some time. I know it isn’t easy, but I need you to trust me.”

Well, that’s sobering.

I swallow, unsure what to say.

He knows he has me, but he closes the distance between us, cupping my face in his hand and stroking my cheek with his thumb. “Who told you these things and upset you?”

I hesitate, remembering what Hannah said about not letting on that she helps me see things clearly where he’s concerned. The lie feels sticky in my mouth, but I know I have to utter it. “I ran into my friend Janie after school.”

He nods, his gaze shuttered. “The one you were with the night you came to my party?”

I nod, but I can’t hold his gaze. I’m not nearly as comfortable lying as he is. Still, I hope he bought it. I don’t want him to get the idea that Hannah’s a bad influence.

Or… a good influence?

He makes everything confusing.

“Well, you did tell her you didn’t have time for her, and now it’s clear you’ve been spending time with me. Maybe she’s a bit jealous,” he reasons. “Wanted to stir things up.”

Right. Because someone giving me sound and reasonable information he held back is clearly trying to stir things up.

I should keep my mouth shut, but I look up at him, wanting some kind of reassurance beyond what he’s given me. “She said you’re tricky.”

“Tricky,” he repeats, like he’s tasting the word and trying to ascertain where he’s had it before. “That’s a gentle word.”

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