Page 68 of Perfectly Faked

“But she hasn’t been there for me. Not the way my parents have.”

She shakes her head in disbelief. “And you don’t think she loves you?”

A humorless laugh escapes my lips. “If she loved me, don’t you think she’d have stopped drinking herself into oblivion? CPS took me away when I was two, Victoria.Two.The judge gave her chance after chance to clean up her life, and she failed every single one. It cost her everything... including me.”

Victoria’s mouth opens, then closes, her face suddenly losing the resolve that was there a minute ago. She reaches out to touch my arm. “I’m so sorry, Leo.”

I turn away from her, placing my palms on the countertop and dropping my head. Victoria’s family has money and respect.She’s never had to carry the weight of a family secret that overshadows her life like I have.

“There are rehab programs,” she offers softly. “We could find her one.”

I close my eyes, forcing my voice to stay even. “She’s been through rehab. Multiple times. At most, it lasts a few months.”

“There has to be something else,” Victoria says. “But ignoring it won’t do any good.”

She’s trying to help—I know that. But I’ve been down every road she’s imagining. I’ve hoped. I’ve fought. And every time, I’ve watched Tina throw it all away.

“I appreciate the suggestions, but I’ve tried everything,” I say.

Victoria hesitates. “So you’re just going to give up on her? Not even try?”

“You don’t get it. I’ve tried—foryears. Paid for treatment centers myself. But you can’t save someone who doesn’t want to change.” I turn around to face Victoria. “I know what you saw tonight makes me look like a bad guy, but there’s no other way. If I keep giving in to her, I’m not helping her—I’m enabling her.”

“Would it kill you to treat her with a little more compassion? You acted like she was a stranger.”

“Look, it’s not like I’m tossing her scraps,” I brush past her, heading for the stairs. “I gave her money—I’m not heartless.”

“You might want to tell your face that,” she shoots back.

“Well, I’m glad my face could provide you with some entertainment,” I say, climbing the stairs, irritated that she’s pushing so hard. “At least it’s honest.”

“I’m just asking why you can’t sit down and have a conversation with her? That’s all she wants,” she says, following me upstairs.

“Because I don’t want to, okay?” I turn to face her in the hallway. “You don’t understand. Your family has money, respect,and a portrait hanging in the Ice House hall of fame. It’s nothing like my life.”

Victoria blinks. “What do my parents have to do with this?”

“You’re out there rubbing shoulders with families from the country club, while I’m just trying not to embarrass you. We’re from two different worlds, and mine doesn’t fit with yours.”

Hurt flashes across her eyes. “I don’t think that, Leo.”

I shake my head. “I saw it in your face earlier, the way you looked at me like I was some charity case. And then you tossed in that apple-tree comment at my expense.”

“That wasn’t what I meant,” she says softly. “I wasn’t trying to hurt you.”

“Great job, then,” I deadpan. “Truly, a masterclass innottrying to hurt someone.”

She levels me with a look. “I just wanted to help both of you.”

“Well, she doesn’t need it, and neither do I,” I say, heading to my room. “Just because my past isn’t perfect doesn’t mean I need you swooping in to save the day. I’ll never be like your family, Vic. I’m not like them.”

I try to push the door shut, but her hand blocks it. “That’s why I like you, Leo. Because you’renothinglike them.” She holds the door firmly in place, her eyes on mine. “And just for the record, my family isn’t perfect. If you knew how many arguments we’ve had about me being a ‘disgrace to the family name,’ you’d probably rethink dating me.”

“Even though you’re the one who rethought dating me?” I can’t help but ask the question. It’s been eating at me ever since I became her skating partner. The text message breakup felt so generic, like I didn’t mean anything to her.

“It’s not what you think,” she says, shaking her head.

“Oh, let me guess—was it so your parents could set you up with some Ivy League jerk? Someone who plays tennis? Orbetter yet, golf? Figures they didn’t want a hockey player with a hot temper.”

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