Page 76 of Bitter Lies

Is it possible this is the big cover-up? Is Max my cousin?

But why? I know Kathy died when I was a baby, but Mom never spoke much about her. If they took in Max, why lie? Why create such a fantastical scenario?

And when were they planning to tell the truth?

“What are you doing in here?” Max’s gruff tone startles me.

Turning, I spy him in the doorway and freeze because I don’t know what his reception will be to what I’ve found, and he’s so unpredictable lately, knowing we’re alone in the house makes me cautious.

Looking him over carefully, I start to relax when he appears clear and sober until I see his eye twitch, and my gaze drops to his fingers tapping against his thigh.

“Um, nothing,” I say through dry lips, shuffling everything back in order to put it away.

“Is that right? Let me see,” he says, and the quiet tone sends a shiver down my spine.

“Max—”

“Let me see.” Cringing at his rough tone, I hand him the papers. He glances through them before dropping them at my feet, and sighing, I move to right them again. “Max, I was just trying to help.”

“Yeah, well, don’t. I don’t fucking want your help,” he sneers.

“Why?”

“Why? Because I’m tired of it—I’m tired of you. Everyone loves you more!”

“Max, what are you saying? Our parents love us equally. Hell, technically, theychoseyou.”

“Bitch! I’m not talking about them!”

Flinching away, I scramble to my feet and go to walk around him, but he steps in my path.

“Then who? Who loves me more?”

“Griffin!” he bellows.

Gasping, I step back and study him, reminded of Miranda’s insistence that he loves Griffin, and with a pulse of sadness, I smile and say softly, “Max, Griffin doesn’t love me. He doesn’t even like me.”

“Ha! You’re so fucking stupid. It’s always been you. Halsey wants to look at the stars. I can’t hang out. Halsey had surgery. I need to make sure she’s okay. Halsey fucking dicked ten guys. I need to defend her honor.”

“Max, you were always with us then,” I say, ignoring his claims about Jason. How can that possibly be true when he as much as called me a whore?

“Yeah, because he felt sorry for me!”

“He hates me. He barely speaks to me. He made a fucking bet to get my virginity with another guy! He doesn’t love me!” I scream, flinching when he steps into my space and looms over me with an angry stare.

“Fuck off. Just fuck off. I fucking hate you. I hate you, not fucking Griffin. Has he fucked you yet? He’s always fucking watching, waiting.”

Bewildered, I stare at my brother and say sadly, “I don’t know what you want from me?”

“I want you to fucking go away! Leave! Never come back!”

“I am! You think I got a dorm room because of Griffin? No! I’m trying to leave. Just let me be! You want to kill yourself with drugs. Fine!”

Turning away, he runs his hands through his hair. “Whatever. Just mind your fucking business.”

With a huff, I crouch to pick up the mess, shoving it inside the safe and spinning the dial before leaving the room and stalking to my own.

But when I get there, Max is standing inside and holding up my phone. “Griff hates you, huh? Then why is he fucking texting you?”

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