Page 176 of Toxic Kiss

I shuffle back and forth, while sweat trickles down my neck.

“I’m not okay. But I want to be.”

That’s the part that almost breaks me. Wanting it after everything. I want to be okay.

“Thank you.”

Everyone claps as I head back to my seat, and the applause doesn’t feel like it’s for someone else. For the first time in a long time…I feel like myself.

chapter

forty-four

“I stopped chasing his approval the day I realized it cost me my soul.” – Haven

HAVEN

Getting out of the shower, I groan as my phone rings for the third time. I know it’s my father from the Frank Sinatra ringtone. I don’t really want to have this conversation before I’ve had any sleep, but apparently, he won’t let that happen.

Well then, he gets what he gets, which is the annoyed and miserable Haven.

“Hello, Dad,” I say, hitting speaker and laying the phone down.

“Hello? That’s all you have to say to me?”

“Well, I just got out of the shower, haven’t slept or eaten, so I’m not exactly in the best mood.”

Grabbing the towel, I dry myself off.

“I see. So this is how you behave after you humiliate yourself in front of the world?”

Okay, that seems a bit harsh.

“I know it’s not ideal that I got into a fight or landed in jail, but let’s not forget that you were the one who wanted me to lean into the whole star-crossed lover’s thing. If nothing else, this is great PR to keep that storyline going.”

Wrapping my hair up, I pull on my comfy sweats and tank top before leaving the bathroom.

“Especially, the wife angle,” I add, tossing the stupid idea back in his face.

I don’t even like reading fake-dating books, let alone living the situation.

“Haven—”

My father starts to say something, but I’m on a roll now, and I cut him off.

“I claimed to be Cy’s wife because the medic wouldn’t let me ride in the ambulance. Later at the hospital, it was the only way to get information on his condition. It just came out, but don’t worry, Declan says he has it handled.”

I’m not proud of myself for the fight or being arrested, but I’m also not wrong about the publicity.

“I see. So you believe this is good for the company?”

There is a slight growl to his tone that I’ve never heard directed at me before.

“Yes…why wouldn’t it be?”

“Haven, I was counting on you to keep Cyrus on the right path. I genuinely thought that you would be a good influence on him. Instead, it has been one disaster after another.”

“Dad. That’s not fair.”