Page 87 of Deliverance

“See to it that it doesn’t,” Asher says, offering his arm to me while keeping his eyes on my parents.

He guides me out of the kitchen, pausing in the hallway when I pull my arm away from him. For some reason, all of a sudden, I feel extremely embarrassed. Ashamed. I can’t even meet his eyes right now.

“Thanks,” I mutter.

“No problem,” he says as he begins scanning the room, presumably looking for Skyla.

He moves to take a step when I reach out and grab his arm, lifting my eyes to his.

“Don’t tell Skyla, okay? She’d only worry.”

He stares at me for a second before he nods. He takes a step before pausing, looking over his shoulder at me.

“If one of them is leaving those burns on your arms, all you have to do is say the word and they’ll be gone.”

I frown at that.

“What? You’re just going to kill my mother and stepfather because I asked?”

“No,” he says. “I’d kill them if Skyla asked, and if she knew you were being abused, she would. That is, if Vincent didn’t get to them first. He just fucking loves tending to Skyla’s requests before the rest of us have a chance to breathe,” he grumbles with a shake of his head before he’s sliding into the main room.

My mother and Harry, at some point, emerged from the kitchen and took up conversation with the Reynolds. They are talking in hushed tones that I don’t bother to make out. As my eyes move through the room, they land on Brad chatting up a divorcee in her late fifties. I can’t help but laugh at the way the woman rests her hand on his chest and smiles up at him. She’s gonna eat him alive.

Approaching the Reynolds family is Thomas Booth, with Bridgette as usual, tucked into his arm. They are practically inseparable these days, but based on Bridgette’s expression, I’d say it isn’t as wanted as she lets on. She puts on a good show typically, always smiling and leaning into him. Now it just looks like she’s leaning on him. Her feet sway slightly with each step, her eyes hazed over as she clutches a glass of champagne like it’s her lifeline.

Shaking my head, I sigh. What is happening to her? She’s falling apart.

The other day, when she apologized to Skyla, I was actually proud of her. She seemed like she was trying to turn over a new leaf. Show others the side of her that I’ve always known was there. Now, she seems worse than ever. Instead of ruining everyone else’s lives, though, she’s self-destructing.

A small wave catches my attention from the other side of the room, and I see Maryia gesturing me over, wearing a show-stopping blue dress. Glancing around, I decide there is no harm in approaching her to talk. I weave through people and when I stop in front of her. She smiles.

“Hey,” she says.

“Hey,” I say with a smirk as I pull her in for a ‘platonic’ hug, where I take the opportunity to whisper into her ear before I nip it.

“Are you trying to turn me on in this thing?” I ask as I pull away.

“Depends. Is it working?”

I allow my eyes to skate over her as I sink my teeth into my lower lip and nod.

“Fuck, yes it is.”

We both laugh as she clutches her purse in front of her and looks up at me shyly.

“So, my parents left. I don’t have a ride. Think you could give me one?”

I smirk. “Depends. What kind of ride we’re talking?” I tease.

A devilish look enters her eyes.

“Both would be lovely.”

“I’m nothing if not accommodating,” I say as I loop my arm through hers, the way any two friends would, before escorting her out of the house.

I know Harry and my mother won’t say anything about me leaving early. At least not tonight. Asher dropping that little bombshell about me and Skyla probably left their heads reeling. I never told them about Sky. I knew they’d try to find a way to use our friendship to their advantage. They both have taken so much from me, I wouldn’t allow them to take the only true friendship I’ve been able to have.

My eyes move around the room, looking for said best friend but coming up empty.

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