Page 39 of The Road Less Traveled By

“What about today?”

“The fashion show and running into that girl or whatever.”

Ah, yes. Lily. Running into your fake boyfriend's ex and one true love in front of a bunch of cameras is not the most comfortable moment. I know Alex and I are fake, but to the rest of the world, we’re not, and I can only imagine how Lily felt when she saw us together.

I could tell she’s still in love with him. I could see it in her eyes, written all over her face, and for a second, I swear I saw the same look on Alex.

“It’s fine. I’m sure the entire internet will have something to say on those pictures, but there's nothing I can really do.” I sigh before I eat another strawberry, trying to swallow the anxiety brewing in my gut.

“You talk about all this stuff as if it’s not a big deal.”

“I’m so desensitized to it at this point…” I trail off as all my thoughts swim. “Sometimes, my life doesn't really feel like mine. It doesn't really feel real, and I never know how to explain it to people, so I don't.”

“I get that, but I’ve been told I’m a great listener.”

I meet the hazel eyes I know so well, and my body shivers at his stare. It feels like he can really see me right now, and that scares me. I’ve been so used to pushing people away, but right now, I don't want to do that to Vince. He has seen every broken piece of me, and he’s still here. So, for the first time in a while, I let someone in. “It all feels so normal to me—the invasions of privacy, the camera flashes, the fans. It has become part of my everyday life, and that’s because I chose to upload videos forthe entire internet to see. It feels odd to complain about where I’ve ended up when I made the decision in the first place.”

“Just because you made that choice doesn't give everyone else the right to invade your privacy. You’re still a human being, and I think the world forgets that sometimes.”

“I guess it never really scared me—all the attention—until Ralph came into the picture. Connie shielded me from the mail I used to get, but then my parents didn't take the threats seriously, and it ended exactly how we were afraid it would.” It took me a long time to realize that my parents never showed me and my sister love, and I used to think I needed a reason to stop talking to them. I never thought I could stop because it was what was best for me. I never thought that was even an option—cutting them off with no explanation.

That’s the problem I’ve always had—I need explanations for things. I need a reason for why something happened the way it did.

My parents don’t love me? Well, maybe their parents did something similar to them, so they don't know how to be parents.

I have a stalker threatening my life? Well, maybe I did something wrong to make him fall for me.

I don't believe I’m destined for love? Well, that’s my own fault because I’d never drag anyone into the mess that is my life.

I only have one true friend who loves me for me? Well, Teagen West is all I’ll ever need, so fuck anyone else who just uses me to get ahead.

“Even if it didn't scare you, don’t discount your feelings and pretend like the life you live isn't a big deal. Going through thisishuge, and you don’t always have to handle it perfectly. You’re allowed to break apart and allow your friends and family to put you back together.”

“The only family I have is Liv.”

“I know you don't believe that, Bree.” His voice is low, like the first time I met him. He always does that—lowers his voice when he tries toappear less intimidating, but I’ve told him countless times that I’m not afraid of him. I think it’s just a habit by now.

“I guess I’ve found my own version of a family after all these years of feeling used.” I smile, thinking about how big our circle has grown. It used to be just the two of us, and now it has expanded to include the entire West family and Tristan’s friends.

They show us the love we’ve been chasing our entire lives. In the race to grasp our parents who were always just out of reach, they carried us to a separate finish line.

“I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with how broken I’ve been these past few weeks. I know I should let Liv be here for these moments, but I can't stand the thought of her seeing me like this. And I don't want to give Ralph anyone else to target.”

“You’re not broken, Bree. I understand why you’re pushing people away, but you should know you don't have to push people away to protect them. Sometimes, letting them in is safer.” His eyes sadden, and I wonder what he’s thinking. It felt like he was pulling from personal experiences, but I decide not to press, just in case.

“Vince, you’ve seen me break down a dozen times since you’ve been back. You know parts of my story that the rest of the world doesn't. You can’t say I’m not broken when you’ve seen me fall to pieces.”

His hand reaches for my chin, and he pulls my gaze back to his. “Is this okay? Because I’d prefer that you look at me when I tell you this.”

I nod, his hand still holding my face. I note that I didn't flinch at the gesture like I did when Alex did it earlier. “You’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met. You’re resilient. You are far from broken, Bree. So, yeah, while the entire internet thinks your life is perfect and knows your stalker’s out, they don't know how you feel. I don't know how you feel most days either. Only you do, and you’re allowed to feel however you want because you’re the one going through it, not anybody else.”

For some reason, right now, in the kitchen sitting across from Vince, my bones exhausted from the weight of the past few weeks, I tell him one of my biggest fears, one that only Dr. Anna and my video diary know about. “But one day, the world will know. Everyone will know what happened to me, and I don't think I’m ready for people to see me as a victim of something that could’ve ended up much worse. They’ll think I’m overreacting, and I’ll get ridiculed again, dragged through the mud even further.”

“Bree, you’re a fucking survivor, not a victim. Yousurvivedsomething horrible, and I think a lot of people can relate to your situation.”

“You really think so?”

“I know so, Bree. Ninety-seven percent of women know too.” He releases my chin before he skewers a strawberry, dips it in chocolate, and holds it up to my mouth. I close my lips around the skewer, and a weird look crosses his face before it quickly goes away.

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