Page 103 of The Bitter Words

He hasn’t noticed me yet. “Zara, turn the fucking lights off. I’m trying to sleep.”

She shoves him in the shoulder. “Cash, Livianna is here.”

“Livianna? What?” He flips over and sits with confusion etched in his features.

Our gazes connect, and my eyes swell with tears. His guilty expression and his pale face tell me everything I need to know.

“Livianna…” He jumps out of bed with no clothes on. “Shit! I didn’t know you?—”

“Obviously.” I swallow my crushed heart. “It’s clear you had a great birthday party.”

“Lily… Fuck!” He reaches for his boxer briefs, which are lying on the floor next to the bed. He hops on one foot as he works each leg into them. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to surprise you, but hey, it looks like the joke’s on me.” I spin away and run out of the room.

How could he do this to me?

All my love for him turns to stone. Why did I think this wouldn’t happen?

“Lily, wait!” He grabs my wrist and stops me. “It’s not how?—”

“Don’t even try.” My worst fears take center stage in my mind. “I’ll never be her. I’ll always be second best, just a replica. Never the original or the first one wanted. Just the substitute.”

“Lily…please. I’m sorry.” He stands in front of me with devastation running down his cheeks.

How dare he have the nerve to appear like I’m the one hurting him?

“For what? Cheating on me? Lying to me? Or stringing me along all this time?” I flick my arm out of his grip and take in a rush of air. I start to tremble and my head gets light. “You told me once you never forget your first.”

I push beside him and my vision blurs.

Fuck!

I’m about to have a panic attack and Callum is the last person I want to help me.

I rush to the other bedroom and force it open. “Bren…help.”

I fall to my knees and fight to breathe. Bren and three women shoot up from his king-sized bed.

“Liv…” He grabs a blanket, wraps himself up, and slides out of bed. “You’re in the wrong room.”

“No, I’m not. I need…you to get…my medication.” I point to the area where my suitcase is. “It’s in my…purse.”

“Here.” Callum holds out a glass of water and two anxiety pills toward me. “Take these.”

I shake my head. “Not from you.”

“Livianna, why are you like this?” Bren kneels beside me, taking the items from Callum.

“Get him away…from…me.” The room gets fuzzy and everything goes black.

Livianna/Lily

Four Months Later

Blackout Beaches & The Smell of His Skin

Some temptations don’t knock…they slip in, tasting like salt and leather before you even breathe them in.