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I mulled her words over, chewing on my lip. She was asking me to do a hard task, and I worried I was about to cross over an invisible boundary between Maddox and I. “Maddox is stubborn. What makes you think I can convince him?”
Her eyebrows quirked up; a small smile painted on her pale face. “Because you’re Lila.”
Because you’re Lila.
Because I was Maddox’s Lila, she meant.
With my heart in my throat and sweaty palms, I waited for Maddox to come home. Things were good enough between us, after the time in the library. But I knew something was still wrong with the way his eyes would cloud over. Some days, he was quieter than usual.
But it wasn’t the peaceful quiet, the type that soothed you.
It was the type of silence that waged war inside him. I could tell he was battling something fiercely, and he wasn’t letting me stand next to him, to fight with him.
I told myself that maybe he really was worried about his exams.
But then I realized… Maddox was distracted. He was drinking more, smoking more cigarettes than usual. That was my first clue that something was terribly wrong. Most days, he walked around like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. I couldn’t wrap my finger around it, but I didn’t push. I waited for him to come to me, waited for him to confess his secrets – whatever they were.
The new Maddox worried and scared me.
I inhaled a ragged breath, as the door opened and Maddox walked in, looking like a beautiful, avenging god.
Smoothing a hand down my olive tulle gown, I got to my feet and waited for him to notice me.
He did, slack-mouthed. His eyes widened and then they turned into dark slits. “Where are you going?” he questioned, carefully, pointing at my dress.
Savannah sent the gown this morning when I told her I wouldn’t be able to get one of my own in such short notice. I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear and gave him a tight smile. “Your mom invited us to the gala.”
He knew… and he didn’t need me to elaborate. Maddox threw his backpack on the couch and angrily pulled off his jacket. “You’re not going.” His voice brooked no argument.
My throat bobbed with a hard swallow, even though I had been expecting this response. “Why? Your mom personally came over to invite us yesterday, and she was sweet about it,” I said, trying to pacify him.
His head snapped up, and he glared. God, that look was threatening. “You didn’t tell me she came.”
“I didn’t have a chance. You were so busy, and we barely saw each other,” I argued. With both our exams clashing together on the same days, we barely even saw each other in the last twenty-four hours.
I grasped his arm. “Maddox, please. Just this once. We have to go. In the last four years, your mom never–”
He cut me off with a low snarl. “I don’t care what she said. You. Are. Not. Going.”
You… Me? Wait, what?
My brows pulled together in a frown. “I don’t understand.”
“We’re not going to the gala, Lila. Take off that damn dress.”
I stood my ground. “I want to go.”
His left eye was twitching, as he scowled. I had seen him give others this look, but it was never directed at me, until now. “Why?”
“Because your father wants you there and because your mother actually looked sincere when she asked me.” My fingers curled around his bicep, and I squeezed. “I know they’ve hurt you, but just this once… maybe…”
I told myself that I wasn’t going to push him. If Maddox refused to go now, after my attempt to convince him, I’d leave it be. I’d remove the dress, text Savannah and tell her we weren’t coming. Then, I’d get in bed with Maddox.
Just because Savannah pleaded with me nicely, I wasn’t going to force Maddox.
But then…
Maddox wrenched his arm away. and I stumbled back, almost falling on my ass. He raked his fingers through his hair and glowered at me. “It’s not about me. I don’t care about the gala! I’ll go, for fuck’s sake. But I don’t want you there.”
Something happened.
Something snapped in my chest.
“What?” I breathed. “Maddox, what are you talking about? Why can’t I go?
His head lowered and fixed me with an intense, crazed look. “Because I don’t want you anywhere near them! You don’t belong there.”
I flinched, and my heart dropped to my feet, laying there… cold. “Right. Because I’m not filthy rich.”
His back snapped straight, and his whole body tensed. His face hardened, and his jaw twitched, as a flash of regret pooled in his blue eyes. “Lila,” he groaned, as if he was in pain. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
No, I didn’t know what he meant. He was so goddamn confusing. Every day I had to deal with his mood swings: his hot and cold attitude.
