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His palm cups my ass. “Then we won’t go.”
I smile against his skin. Fate can be cruel, but however cruel it is…
It gave me Grayson and I pray it doesn’t take him away from me. “Promise not to break my heart, Grayson,” I whisper.
His throat bobs with a swallow and then I feel his lips brushing against my temple. The softest kiss and my heart stutters. “I will be breaking my own heart if I break yours, Riley. You have me in the palm of your hand.”
My eyes close, and I sink into his warmth. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Goldilocks.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Colton — 18 years old
I move the last of the boxes into the apartment, the door closing behind me with a click.
Well, I guess it’s time to unpack. But, of course, Maddox fucking bails on me during moving day to help Lila instead. Pussy-whipped fucker.
I can hear the clatter of voices next door as I open the fridge and take out an energy drink. Riley and Lila will be living next door to us. We’re neighbors now. Of course Maddox would want to keep Lila close to him…but this means I will be seeing the little wallflower everyday now. I can’t decide if that’s good or bad.
The last time Riley and I spoke with each other was the night of my party, when her boyfriend punched me in the face. Though I don’t blame him, because I would have done the same thing if I were in his place.
The regret set in the next morning, when I was sober, and self-loathing crawled under my flesh. I had been feeding the green monster inside me, with fury and resentment toward everything and everyone. The bitterness in me had really been cruel that night.
But Riley wants absolutely nothing to do with me now. Maddox has warned me to stay away from her, unless I want to face Lila’s wrath. She’s a tad overprotective of her best friend.
Taking a long sip of my drink, I make my way to the black leather couch. New town, new place…four hours and 220 miles away from the hell that I call home.
Damn, it’s nice to finally leave. Gratifying indeed. The freedom that comes with it fills me with pure fucking bliss and infinite reprieve. I don’t have to see Sienna’s face everyday and I won’t have to hear my father’s constant yapping about how pathetic me and my life decisions are.
This new place, a luxurious two-bedroom apartment that Maddox and I share, is quiet and smells of new paint. My eyes close, enjoying the tranquility that comes with my new-found freedom. For the first time in many years, I finally feel relaxed.
Cole is off to Yale, and he’s damn happy about it. I don’t have to worry about him anymore. He’s healing, I see it in his eyes now. The guilt he bore from the accident slowly being lifted from his shoulders. The depressive phase he went through because of his limp…he’s grown to accept he will never be able to play football again. There are five stages of grief, indeed, and my twin went through all of them.
Denial, anger, bargaining, depression and finally acceptance.
And lastly, Cole is safe and away from Sienna’s vile intentions. Her focus had shifted over the last year. I guess she found a new man who piqued her interest, her shiny new toy. Another guy trapped in her webs of lies and manipulations.
Cole and I waited for two years for this day…
And it’s finally here.
Fuck yeah.
My phone rings, snapping me out of my thoughts. I answer the call without looking at who it is. “Yes?” I hear rustling in the background and then Maddox’s voice comes through.
“Lila and Riley want to go out for dinner. They are curious to check out the restaurants around us. You wanna come along?”
I take another sip of my drink. “No, I’m good. I’ll order in.”
“Cool.”
I end the call and tuck my phone away. Leaning my head back against the couch, I close my eyes. The apartment is quiet, except for the sound of my breathing. I stretch my legs out in front of me, my feet knocking a box over, but I don’t even bother opening my eyes.
I haven’t slept in over forty-eight hours.
But I can feel my body collapsing now, exhaustion clawing at my bones.
