Page 116 of Provocation
He looks taken aback like he forgot I was here. He takes another sip of his drink, and I think he's not going to answer, but then he lets out a small sigh.
'I would have taken her any way I could have her.'
His eyes flash at me. 'We could have been happy if it wasn't for you. She had to give you so much all the time. Stupid, troublesome brat.' He snorts. 'Your leaving was a blessing.'
I don't know why his words cut me, but they do.
He looks at the floor, taking another gulp of his drink.
'I can't even remember the night she died,' he says quietly, more to himself than me. 'How fucked up is that? How can I not remember any of it? Just waking up at my desk with a raging migraine to the cops at the front door.’
He sighs again and drifts away as if he's forgotten that he was even speaking to me.
The dance finishes, and Shade comes up to me with concern written on his face.
'What was that about? What did my father say?'
'I'll tell you later,' I say quietly, almost feeling as if I'm going to cry.
'Come,' he says quietly. 'Dance with me.'
I nod and he takes my hand, leading me onto the dance floor.
SHADE
I can see Joe watching from the sidelines. His eyes are riveted on Daisy, but she hasn't noticed him in here yet, and for that, I'm thankful. In my arms, she's relaxed, though a little sad, maybe.
'Tell me,' I murmur. 'What was he saying?'
She shakes her head a little. 'It was weird. He's very drunk. He was saying that he didn't actually remember the night that April died, that he woke up at his desk, and didn't even recall leaving the party.'
I frown. 'That is weird. Did he sound like he was telling the truth?'
She shrugs. 'I don't really have that kind of superpower,' she murmurs a little sardonically.
‘But that's not what's upset you?'
She shakes her head.
'Come on.’
'He said that he always loved April, but she was in love with my dad. I asked him why he married her, and he said that he would take her any way that he could, and that they'd have been happy if it wasn't for me.' She winces a little. 'He said it was a blessing that I was taken to The Heath.'
My arms around her tighten a little.
'That's bullshit,' I say.
'I know. I mean, I think I do. I just... I didn't think he'd actually say how much he hates— I just didn't expect it. That's all.'
The next song starts, and we keep dancing. I look over to see Joe Banderville with his sister. I've noticed her tonight a couple of times, though she melts into the background. She's been standing with the other girls, but she doesn't really speak to them much. While she's dancing with Joe, she's wooden. Her steps are all correct, but her face is blank. She doesn't look into his eyes. She stares at his chest. He says something to her that makes her blanch and, as they turn in circles close to ours, I can see how hard he's gripping her fingers.
I almost feel bad for the girl, but I've got my own problems, and so does Daisy. We can't save everyone.
When the dance ends, I'm about to take Daisy to the refreshments to get her a drink, when none other than Marcus steps up.
'Can I have the next dance?' he asks with a shit-eating grin on his face.
Daisy tenses next to me.
