Page 77 of Bitter Lies

“I don’t know,” I say, holding my hand out for the phone and ignoring the tiny thrill I feel.

I’m sure it’s more bullshit about how I’m lying anyway.

“Fuck you,” he screams, throwing the phone at my head.

Ducking, I watch in disbelief as my phone slams against the wall and shatters while Max pants heavily before me. Looking into his eyes, I see a blankness that sends a chill through me, and backing slowly from the room, I spin and run as he comes at me, but I only make it two steps before he shoves me against the wall and leans into me.

“I’m tired of the fucking lies.”

“Max, stop, please. You’re hurting me,” I plead, closing my eyes and praying he lets the fuck up.

“I don’t care. I don’t fucking care!”

Spinning me around, he glares into my face, and I can’t help the tears that well because this my own brother is assaulting me, and I’m scared.

He backs up at that, and I step away cautiously, sniffling, but then my phone rings—how, I don’t know, because it’s smashed to bits.

He swings toward it, and with his back turned, I slide down the hall, hoping to reach the bathroom where I can lock myself inside as he picks up the phone and says, “Hello.”

Staring at him, I slow to a stop, watching incredulously as he speaks on my behalf. “No, she’s not available, bro. I think she forgot her phone. Out with some guy.”

“Yeah, whatever,” he says sourly, dropping the phone and stomping on it. “If you fucking talk to him, I’ll hurt you. If you fucking breathe wrong, I’ll hurt you. Do you understand?”

Nodding my head, I ease into the bathroom and close the door, locking it behind me and sliding to the floor.

My brother is insane, and I don’t know what to do about it.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Fate, thy fickle bitch.

Iavoid Max for the remainder of the holiday, going so far as to leave the house when my parents are gone.

I’m still waiting for a replacement phone, and I have no idea what Griffin wanted, although I assume it had to do with the showdown before I left.

I don’t have many places to go, so I end up at the coffee shop around the corner more often than not.

It’s New Year’s Eve, and everyone’s out partying. I’ve been huddled in a seat at the shop, avoiding the employees’ expectant stares, but I know I can’t avoid it forever and leave just as they’re locking the door.

With a sigh, I head toward home, hoping Max isn’t there, because my parents went out with their friends, but when I see the lights on in the house, I keep going. Because I have nowhere else to go, I walk down the path behind Griffin’s property until I’m at the tree house, climbing the ladder tiredly and collapsing inside.

The Hathaway house is lit up, I presume because they’re having another party, and briefly, I wonder where Griffin is before discarding the thought because it doesn’t matter what he’s doing, even if I’m hiding inside his damn tree house.

After a while of gazing at the stars, I pass into a light sleep, only waking when I hear rustling, and Griffin’s head appears in the opening.

“Halsey,” he says in surprise, and I smile wanly, giving him a little wave.

He clears his throat, his raspy tone sending a shiver down my spine. “What are you doing here?”

“I don’t know,” I say, turning back to the sky.

“Hm.” With a slight rustle, he settles beside me, and we gaze at the same stars.

Does he remember when we used to do this? Does he care?

For a while, it’s quiet, and I feel for the first time in a while that it’s right. Maybe it’s all a facade, maybe tomorrow we’ll wake up hating each other again, but right now, it’s okay.

“Why aren’t you at your party?”

---