Page 116 of Things We Fake
Neil let out a faux laugh, as though this was just a friendly visit. His gaze flicked past my father’s shoulder, searching the dining room.
“I heard Susanne was in town.” His eyes landed on me, unreadable. “I thought I’d stop by.”
Paul stepped in next to my father. “Well, you thought wrong.”
Neil frowned, looking perplexed at his best friend. Although he should check again with my brother about that.
“Paul, what’s up, buddy?”
“Don’t buddy me, Neil,” Paul said through his teeth. “I know what you did to my sister.”
Neil’s face was remarkably puzzled. “What are you talking about?”
Michelle crossed her arms. “You cheated on Susanne, you asshole.”
Neil exhaled dramatically, putting his hands in his pockets. “That was a misunderstanding. Besides, it happened years ago. You’d think I was the devil himself the way you’re all acting.”
“The devil at least has charm,” my mother spoke, her eyes darting ice and fire at Neil.
“You and I are going to talk about this in private,” Paul said flatly.
Neil’s eyes flared, but he forced his smile to stay in place. He looked at me again. “I look forward to it. I can explain everything. But for now, I’d like to talk to Sue.”
I stared at him. The last time I’d seen him was nearly ten years ago. And now he was here, pretending that we could just pick up where we left off? Like I hadn’t spent the past decade trying to erase the damage he’d done? Maybe in his sick mind this was indeed just a misunderstanding. The man had no concept of the harm he’d done to me.
I stood slowly, my chair scraping against the hardwood floor. “Fine, talk. You’ve got two minutes.”
Neil stepped forward, no doubt expecting me to invite him inside.
Paul physically blocked him.
Neil huffed. “Can we at least talk in private?”
I folded my arms. “This is as private as we’re getting.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw as he gazed around the table, taking in the stony faces and hostile stares. He clearly wasn’t getting the welcome he’d expected.
“Alright.” He exhaled loudly. “I’ll just say it. I made a mistake, Sue. I never should have let you go.”
A bitter laugh escaped me before I could stop it. “Oh, that’s rich. You let me go? That’s what you’re calling it?”
“I’m serious.” He took another step forward. “Sally was a mistake. Everything that happened after you left was a mistake. I—”
“You cheated on me, Neil.” My voice was sharp, clear as I pressed my hands down hard on the table and stared into his soulless eyes. “Not once. Not twice. You screwed my best friend behind my back repeatedly. And now you want to come crawling back because… what? She left you? Took your money?”
His mask cracked for a second. Then he swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down, and forced another smile. “You and I were meant to be together, Sue. Don’t you see? I made a mistake, I admit it, but everything that happened helped prove that we’re meant to be together.”
A chill ran down my spine. The man was insane.
I cocked my head, staring at him, beyond the handsome face and expensive clothes, straight into his little black heart. “You really believe that, don’t you?”
Something dark flickered in his eyes. “You belong with me and your family here in Warwick, not with some fancy city slicker. And he left you, just like I planned. I was trying to get you back, that’s why I did it all. The dating site, the kinky stuff—”
He stopped short, probably because my face had grown as white as a sheet.
But it was too late. I’d heard the son of a bitch loud and clear.
Paul sucked in a slow breath. “Wait. What?”
