Page 91 of Not Made to Last

“Theplants? They did that because that’s what they’re calling you. Like a spy. An informant. Aplant.”

“Oh…” I inhale slowly, quietly, and face Rhys head on, let him witness the shame as it washes over me. It’s the least he deserves.

“I think that’s what breaks me the most about all of this…” he says, his eyes holding mine. “Even after everythingyoudid to me, I still wanted to believe that you felt something for me.”

“I—”

“But that you thought I would do that to you… to your family… that I would go so fucking low as to risk Max’s life, and for what? Formypersonal gain?”

“Rhys…”

“I have nothing to gain from anything to do with you, Olivia. Not now. Not anymore.”

A single tear escapes, and it’s only then that he looks away. “Why didn’t you say something?” I ask. “Why let me believe?—”

“Because it’s so much easier to hate you when the feeling is reciprocated.”

48

Rhys

“Mom still refuses to go back to Colorado, so to answer your question, yes, I’m still refusing to enter the main house, and I know how you feel… that she was just trying to help or whatever, and maybe you’re right. But come on, Izzy, even you can admit how fucked up all of this is. She’s been here almost a week now, and I think I’ve said two words to her. Don’t worry. I know these feelings I have toward her won’t last forever, but right now, it’s all I have.

“As for how Olivia handled the news when I told her it wasn’t me who told the entire school… honestly, I don’t know. It’s Friday now, and I told her on Wednesday, and she hasn’t been to school since. So… there’s that. It’s the only thing I feel guilty about with this whole thing—the amount of school the girl’s missing. She had worked hard all her life for her education, but it was cut short due to reasons beyond her control. She deserves to graduate. To go to college or whatever else she wants to do. So… I guess it’s clear that no matter what—I still want the best for her, and that’s never going to change…”

I look up at the sound of the pool house doors sliding open. Mom stands in the doorway, her hands clasped together.

From the couch, I stare at her as I say into the phone, “I have to go, Izzy. I love you.” I drop my gaze just long enough to hit send, then focus on Mom again.

“You’re still doing that voice message thing with your sister?” she asks, and she’s smiling, and it irks me that she is. “I love how close you’ve gotten.”

Gotten? We werealwaysclose. I almost died for my sister. And I’d do it again, a thousand times over.

Apparently, my mom thinks my silence is an invitation to enter my personal space. She sits on the other end of the sectional couch, picking at a spot on the arm. “I came to ask if you knew anyone who needs a job.”

I don’t even bother hiding my eye roll, because of course she’s here aboutwork.

Mom doesn’t react to my attitude, just continues to speak as if I’ll actually talk back. “Olivia came over earlier today…”

If she wanted to get my attention, she succeeded. Though I don’t let it show.

“She quit her job, handed me the keys to all the laundromats, and said she could no longer continue to work for me. In any capacity…”

She waits a moment for a response that never comes.

“So, anyway,” she says, standing. “If you think the position suits anyone you know, just have them contact me.”

I wait until she’s well and truly gone before unlocking my phone and opening the app for the security cameras.I’d had the notifications muted since Mom’s been home because I got sick of watching her come and go. Now, I skim the footage from the front door until Olivia appears. She’d come around midday, when she knew I wasn’t home, and it’s Delaney, our house manager, who greets her. Delaney had seen Olivia in passingbut had never formally met her before. She recognizes Olivia, though, because she says, “Rhys isn’t home right now.”

Olivia nods, and I try not to look too long at her face. “I’m here to see Mrs. Garrett.”

Only seconds later, my mom appears. “Did you want to come in?” Mom asks her, and she’s quick to shake her head, get straight to the point. She hands Mom a set of keys and tells her exactly what Mom had told me, that she’s sorry, but she can no longer work for my mom in any capacity. And then she turns, and I think that’s all there is, but just as she’s about to step down, Mom calls her name.

Slowly, Olivia turns to my mom, and even through the security cameras, I can see her chest rise with her inhale, see the frown marring her lips. Mom asks, stepping toward her, “Why didn’t you ever tell him?”

Olivia’s quiet a beat, then answers, “For the same reason you didn’t.” She shrugs. “I was afraid to lose him.”

She turns around again, and again, Mom stops her with her words. “Do you remember what I told you? When you asked me what I would get out of our agreement.”

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