Page 73 of The Bitter Words

Sneaky Ventures & Cocaine Charms

Even comfort feels counterfeit when the air itself wants to strangle you pretty.

“Isaid no, Lily.” Callum fiddles with the ring I gave him, twisting it in circles around his finger.

He’s at his house in the kitchen. I’m in my room sitting on my bed, and we’re FaceTiming. It’s Friday night and Mayhem’s kickoff party is tonight.

“I’ll stay out of your way and I promise not to fight with you.” I glance at the clock. “There’s still time for me to change and be ready to leave soon. So give me one good reason why I can’t go?”

“I already told you Leon will be there. You might like him, but I don’t and you’re not going anywhere near him. I’m gonna show up, do my required media interviews, and get the fuck out of there.”

“Just let me come for a little while.”

“I can’t be at your side every minute,so it’s a hard no. You’re not gonna get left behind where you’re put in a bad situation.”

Yeah, and that means this isn’t about Leon. Callum saying no to taking me with him is about two other people.

“Callum, are you sure this isn’t because Zara and Sebastian will be there together?”

“I don’t give a flying fuck if they’ll be there.” He slams his hand down on the counter. “But now that I know he’s gonna be there too, I really don’t want you to go. No way am I letting you near those two men.”

“I get why you feel that way about Sebastian, but why is Leon a problem? You told me the other day your issue with him is about creative differences, but you’re acting like he would hurt me somehow.”

Callum squeezes his eyes shut and growls. He takes a second to breathe, then stares at me through the screen.

“Lily, will you please trust me on this?” His voice is much calmer than before. “I’ll go, fulfill my obligations, and come over to see you after. Now let’s drop it.”

I move a pillow over my lap. “But?—”

“No. If you show up, I’m gonna be pissed off. We’ll fight and the night will end horribly. Is that how you wanna spend one of the last nights we have together before I leave?”

“It doesn’t have to go down like that. We can make the best of it. Let me be there to show my support and be a part of the excitement.”

“Fucking hell, Livianna.” His head drops forward, exasperated. He glares up at the screen. “If you go tonight after I’ve told you a million times no, don’t expect to speak to me.”

“Callum…”

“Seriously, I’ll avoid you like the plague and leave without saying goodbye. And I don’t mean from the party. You can consider us over if you do.”

I jerk back and my mouth falls open. “Wow, Callum. That’s just cruel.”

“Call it what you want. At this point, you know where I stand. How far you take this is up to you, but I’m begging you not to test me.”

“Fine.” My cheeks flame and my chin quivers. “Have it your way, but since you think you’re running everything, you might need to consider something else. If you come over to see me tonight don’t expect a warm welcome.”

“Come on, Lily, don’t be like that.”

“I’m so sick of how you treat me. Figure yourself out and when you’re ready to apologize, you can do it to my face.” I hang up, boiling inside.

I should go to the event and see if he’s bluffing, but what if he’s not? My heart cracks just thinking about it.

If we break up before he goes out on tour, he’s free to be with other people. I know what he was like on the road before I was in the picture.

There’s no way he wouldn’t go back to living that way. Especially when he’s using drugs and stressed like he is.

I throw my phone across the room. Why is it so awful that I want to support him? Maybe he’d feel too responsible for me if I go and wouldn’t focus on what he needs to do. Am I being selfish about this?

I spend the next two hours waiting for a text from him, but it never comes. My parents are having a party, so I decide to venture downstairs and enjoy a glass of champagne with everyone.