Page 12 of The Masks We Burn

Just that one gesture changes the air around him, and I can see how he’s able to catch so many flies with the thick honey dripping off that smile. Too badIknow the difference between straight from the hive and high fructose corn syrup.

“My vote is the lemon with fresh berries.” My mouth remains tight, but I train my face to be impassive as I finally snap my eyes away from him. William’s lack of a comeback is sus as hell, but I decide to ignore it.

“Ditto,” replies Spencer.

Lily purses her lips, moving them back and forth in thought before nodding. “Agreed. And I may just get a few of those vanilla cupcakes to go.”

Decision made, she and Spencer get up in unison and walk toward the counter. I gather my purse, sliding it on my shoulder before I feel William’s eyes on me. His gaze burns the side of my face, and it takes more effort than I want to admit not to squirm.

“Hey, Amora. Can I ask you something?” Out of my periphery, I see him shift to face me.

“About?” My voice is snippier than I mean it to be, but really, I can’t find it in me to give a fuck. I won’t pretend to like the guy when I don’t have to.

“Your last name. It doesn’t happen to have any connections with Orlov Association, does it?”

This makes my eyes snap to him, though I regret it instantly, my center throbbing from how damn perfect his face is. To sit on it would be a dream. Just thinking it makes me want to slap the handsome off him so my fucking lady bits would behave for just one second.

I narrow my eyes to mere slits, purposefully making him nothing more than a blurry blob. “Yeah, why?”

Though I don’t know what all theassociationentails, I know it’s on the more dangerous end of the spectrum in terms of my father’s business. It’s all hush hush and top secret but it’s some type of club. It was actually the one that got us out of the slums we were in. I rack my brain for one of the early memories but come up blank. After he started investing in hotels, the association seemed to disappear. Guess it really didn’t.

William glances at Spencer and Lily as they continue their conversation with the baker before looking back to me. His brows keep twitching as if he’s focusing on keeping them unfurrowed, but just barely winning. A vein in his jaw tics and my patience dwindles.

“What about it, William?”

His large Adam’s apple bobs with a swallow and his shoulders lower a fraction, almost as if he knows his efforts will be fruitless, but he tries anyway. “I need an invite to the club in order to get in, but I don’t know anyone.”

William’s voice trails off, and the reality of what he’s asking sinks in, making me downright fucking giddy. “Wait. Are you askingmeto inviteyouto one of my father’s clubs? Like do you a favor? Is this real right now?”

My tone is budding with sarcasm and oozing with disdain, but it doesn’t seem to faze him. Instead, he finally lets the fine wrinkles on his forehead show with raised brows, his face dropping. A real look of defeat if I’ve ever seen one. I would say it pulls on my heartstrings, but it doesn’t. He’s an asshole, and I don’t plan on doing him any favors.

“William, if you were on fire, I wouldn’t even stop to spit on the flames.”

With that, I stand, catching Lily in her periphery and shooting aLittle Rascalswave and leaving. I don’t make it but a few steps into the frigid afternoon air before a heavy hand tugs on my forearm.

I whip around, ripping my arm away, a scowl on my face. William shoves the offending hand into his hoodie, an exasperated sigh pushing a puff of white smoke around him. “Amora. Look, I know we had a little…altercationback in high school, but that was like five years ago. Can’t we just—”

“Can’t we just what? Move on and forget about it so I can doyoua favor? Look, dickwad, unless you want to get on your knees and lick a little clit, we don’t have anything to talk about.” My pulse vibrates through me, pushing me to be catty and abrasive at the same time. I can’t fucking stand him and his gall.

I don’t care how long ago it was, the shit was rude, uncalled for, and hurt feelings I didn’t even know I had. And for that, I’m fucking bitter. Sue me.

But even if I was over it, why would I accept a basic, half-ass apology and some puppy dog eyes when it wouldn’t have happened before he knew I could be useful? I think that’s what pisses me off the most.

William clenches his jaw as if he can see the decision already made in my eyes, and he scratches through the thick dark curls on the top of his head. “Amora. I need this. Hell, I need you…”

I don’t think about the way his words make little butterflies take flight in my stomach. Fuck this man and his pretty words. Twirling on my heels, I nearly stomp to my car, ignoring my vibrating phone to grab my key fob.

William’s deep voice cuts through the air just as I open my door. “There has to be something I can do for you—”

He definitely says something else after, but it’s cut short and muffled as I slam my door shut and shove my head back into the seat rest.

I shouldn’tstillcare. It shouldn’tstillbother me. But just like people who can’t forget their first real heartbreak, I can’t forget the way he made me feel. He hit the proverbial nail on the head as if he and my mom were on the same team, and exposed my pitiful truth for the world to see. Maybe she was right all along, and I’ll just be another housewife. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s not the path I want. And I damn sure shouldn’t be punished or forced to do so just because I haven’t quite figured it out yet.

It’s then I look down at my phone and see the incoming call that reminds me…

I’m out of time.

CHAPTER SIX

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