Page 99 of Bitter Lies

To top it off, even though he’s being douchey about it, part of me yearns for it to be real because I’ve waited years for him to come back to me. But it doesn’t matter because either way, it’s the wrong time, and I’ve got too many secrets I’m juggling, afraid to drop one for fear of the consequences.

What would Griffin do if he knew I was planning to steal his grandmother’s necklace?

I mean, when he thought I gave it away, he iced me out for years.

Shit.

Not to mention the whole fiasco last year—I can’t stand the thought of him seeing me wasted out of my mind and acting like a slut.

I hate that girl for not having more self-respect. Which makes me wonder just what the hell I’m doing now? Idiot.

“Well, well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised,” Max says, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him.

“Max!” I gasp, pulling the covers to my chin.

“Relax, it’s not like I haven’t seen tits before,” he sneers, to which I give him a dirty look as I wrap the sheet around me and step from the bed.

“What are you doing in here?”

“Did you find it?” he asks, pulling out drawers and rifling through them.

“No. What are you doing?”

“Giving you a hand,” he says casually, pulling out the next drawer.

“Stop! He’s going to know if you do it like that!”

Pulling the drawer from its hinges, he looks at me with a triumphant smirk as he dumps the contents to the floor. “No, dearsister. He’s going to know you did.”

Appalled, I grab his hand, but he shoves me away, and I step back, watching helplessly as he creates another mess I have to clean up. “Why are you such a jerk?”

“Fuck off, golden girl!”

Flinching, I stare at him incredulously because it’s odd for him to be bringing it up, but I guess it goes along with his paranoia. When we were kids, that’s what my dad used to call me until I think we both grew out of it.

Was I treated differently? I don’t know. I’ve searched my memory, but nothing about our lives seemed off. I mean, even now, he’s treated like a fucking prince.

If anything, he can do no wrong while I’m watched like a hawk, and it’s infuriating for him to be throwing everything away. And for what? A lie? That was probably to protect him?

“Why didn’t you tell anyone you were bi?” I ask as he tears through the room.

Pausing before the nightstand drawer, he stares at me blankly for a minute before saying, “I’m not.”

“But—”

“What? Just because I fuck guys doesn’t mean I’m bisexual,” he says.

“Then what does it mean?”

Closing the door with a thud, he gives me an impatient look. “Nothing!”

“Max,” I whisper, “why won’t you talk to me?”

“Because,” he says, turning to me with a cruel look in his eyes. “I hate you.”

“But why?”

“Ha! Even now, you’re fucking pathetic. You think Griff wants you? You’re a challenge, that’s all. As soon as he knows you’re still panting after him, he’ll walk.”

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