Page 108 of Spin The Bottle
“Leila, escúchame.”
Listen to her? If she thinks I’m going to sit here and listen to her insult me, she’s dead wrong. I hang up the phone and throw it on the couch.
I don’t even realize what I’m doing until the cabinet is wide open, and I have every single snack Aiden bought for me in my hands. I rip open one packet, drop some of the multi-colored candy into my hand, and shove it into my mouth. The sweet taste covers my tongue, invading my senses until I can focus on nothing but this.
Alarms ring in my head. I know I’m eating too much. I know what I’m doing. I can’t even taste the food anymore, my stomach cramping as I keep eating. But I can’t stop, this food is my only comfort, my only solace.
My stomach cramps when I swallow the first bite, the memory of doing this so long ago coming back to me. The urge has the best of me as I turn the package in my hands, scanning the back, but when I see what’s on the back, my heart stops.
I can’t see how many calories I’ve just stuffed in my mouth because in place of the nutritional value is a white piece of paper stuck to it.
Food is energy. Eat what you want.
The plastic shakes in my hands as I stare at his messy handwriting. When did he do this? Why? If it was all a lie, why would he do something like this?
I grab another snack, turn it over, and see another white piece of paper covering the back.
You’re so beautiful. My heart skips a beat every time I see you.
I let my eyes drift closed, another tear falling down my cheek. I flip over another one.
These should be illegal. But if you enjoy them, eat away.
I almost laugh, almost smile at the thought, but then I remember everything that happened between us, and I push the packet away from me, staring at the words that mean so much but are all lies.
Keys jingle in the door and I freeze, my mouth drops open at the sight of Rosie walking in.
Shit.
“Hey,” she says, walking through the door. “I went home and told Grayson I was coming bac—” She turns around, her words getting stuck in her throat and her eyes widen when she spots me.
I collapse onto the floor, the empty wrappers trailing down, littering everywhere around me. I bury my face in my hands, feeling my heart race at the realization of what I’ve done.
Fuck. What did I do?
A sob explodes out of me, tears falling onto my hands as I press my head into them.
“Leila.” Rosie’s voice breaks and she falls to her knees beside me, wrapping her arms around me.
I shake my head, pulling back and looking at her. “It happened again,” I cry out. “I got played again. How did I let it happen again?”
“I’m so sorry.” Her eyes fill with tears, my own watching her blurry face frown, crying along with me. “I’m so sorry, Leila.”
I bury my head back in my hands, wishing I could go back and do everything again. I wouldn’t give in this time. I would never have known what it was like to have his hands all over me, whispering words of affection. I wouldn’t have been heartbroken.
“I loved him,” I admit.
Her hand freezes on my shoulder and she sniffs. “I know.”
I pull back, wiping the tears. “I thought it was real. I thought I meant something to him.” She sighs, pressing her lips together, wiping her eyes, and looking away from me. “What is it?”
She glances back at me, biting her lip. “I talked to him.”
A frown fills my face. “You did?”
She shrugs. “I don’t think he meant to hurt you.”
I glance at her, feeling betrayed. “You’re joking.”
