Page 65 of Becoming Cinderella

Liam closes his eyes for a few seconds, before he opens them, unable to look at me. He steps back into his room and closes the door, signaling the end of our conversation.

Of our deal.

Of our friendship.

Of anything more that was starting to happen between us.

I want to collapse on the ground, to sob until I have to be hooked up to an IV to hydrate myself. But fortunately, I still have a shred of pride left to make it outside without allowing myself to break in front of an audience, even if it is a hotel staff I’ll never see again. I walk like I’m in a daze, everything around me is blurry and my body feels the way my mouth does when I get a cavity filled.

When I reach the lobby, my phone vibrates in my pocket and I stop, quickly pulling it out in hopes it’s Liam. I glance at the elevators to see if he’s behind me as I open my messages.

Mom: Where are you?

I sigh heavily as I slide my phone back into my pocket before realizing Penn and Jared are no longer in the lobby. I bet unhelpful Marcus and the rest of the hotel staff kicked them out after I made my run for Liam’s room. I head outside and see them leaning against Jared’s car.

“How’d it go?” Jared looks eager, hopeful for my response.

Penn’s smile from her conversation with Jared falls as she looks at me, realizing right away that something is wrong.

“Oh no,” she says under her breath and she goes to wrap me in her arms.

I hold my hands out to keep her from hugging me. “Please, if you hug me right now I’ll just start crying, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop.” My voice cracks and the tears are already threatening to spill over.

Penn and Jared give me a sympathetic look before Jared goes to open the passenger door for me.

I fold myself into the seat and lean my head against the window once Jared shuts the door. Even though I’m trying not to cry in front of Penn and Jared, I still expect body shaking sobs to come, but they don’t. Maybe I’m too numb now to actually feel anything?

Too numb because Liam hates me. I can’t believe that the most amazing guy I’ve ever met, hates me. I've broken all his trust. It makes me want to be mad at him for believing the lies that were mixed in with the truth, but I can’t find it in myself to feel anything but empty right now.

My phone vibrates in my pocket again.

Mom: You lied to us. Come home. Now.

Chapter Nineteen

“Are you sure you’re okay? Do you want me to come inside with you?” Penn asks when Jared pulls up to my house.

My hands shake at my sides. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m coming down from the adrenaline rush back at the hotel, or from dread knowing the conversation I’m about to have with my parents. Or at least with my mom since I know she’s already home and my dad should still be at work.

“I’ve got it. Thanks guys.” I look between her and Jared, who are both watching me like I’m seconds away from bursting into tears. Which is fair, because I definitely am.

I hurry into my house and head straight for my bedroom with hopes to delay the conversation my mom wants to have.

“Carter,” my mom quickly comes into the hallway. “Carter, come here.” Her voice is stern, but I ignore the warning in her tone.

“Please Mom, I don’t want to talk right now.” My words are strained as my bottom lip quivers as I continue my battle to keep back my tears.

“That’s too bad, because we need to.”

I let out a loud and annoyed sigh as I slowly tread back down the stairs. I might be giving her more attitude than is warranted right now, but I just want to go lock myself in my room.

My mom takes a seat at the table, and thankfully my dad is still not home because I’m not sure I’d be able to handle both of them right now.

I lean up against the counter, ignoring Mom's gesture to sit down.

“Carter, I saw those articles about you.”

I don’t say anything. If I try I’ll start to cry, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop once those flood gates are opened.

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