Page 209 of Toxic Kiss

“Haven, stop. Please stop.”

Fuck that.

Eventually, my legs give out, and I fall to my knees. Covering my face, I cry. Not just from the shame of what happened, but because I knew better. My stupid heart wanted to believe that just once Cy wasn’t out to hurt me, even though deep down, I knew better.

A towel drapes over my shoulders, and I clutch the ends, pulling it tight into a fabric shield. No sound comes out as I struggle to breathe through the pain.

“Haven…I’m so sorry,” Patrick says, rubbing circles on my back.

Pushing myself to my feet, I glare at the person I thought I knew. His face is a mask of concern, but the cruel emotions trying to break me burn bright in my chest.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Haven…please.”

“No.” My lip trembles. “I’ve been nothing but a good friend to you. You were my best friend, and I stupidly thought you felt the same way. But you’re just like everyone else. You dumped me the moment Cyrus came to town and promised you fame and fortune. I’ve just been hanging on to the image of us that’s been stuck in my head.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is!”

I clutch the towel so tightly that my fingers ache, but nothing compares to the betrayal I feel in my heart.

“You weren’t just my best friend, you were my brother.” I shake my head. “I don’t want to see you again. We’re not friends. We haven’t been for a long time. It just took me forever to figure it out, because I’m an idiot.”

Fixing the towel to cover all of me, I march in the direction of my car, even though I have no keys or clothes.

“Haven, I’m sorry. I am your friend.”

I can’t even look at Patrick.

“No, you’re not. A friend would never allow the shit that Cyrus does to me to happen and still be his friend.”

Patrick grabs my arm.

“Haven, please stop and talk to me.”

I jerk free from his grip and poke him in the chest.

“I said, don’t touch me.”

He jumps in my way when I start walking again.

“You’re right, I should’ve told him to go to hell a long time ago, but…”

“But what?”

“But…” He stops and runs his hand through his hair.

“Does the fame really mean that much to you?”

“No, it’s not that.” Patrick turns away. “Shit.”

Shivering, I can’t be bothered waiting for whatever he has to say, and I march off again.

“I’m in love with him,” Patrick yells after me, and I freeze. “I know he doesn’t love me back. I know he never will. I know it’s stupid, but I’m in love with him.”

Shock renders me speechless, and I slowly turn around to face Patrick.