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“Different type of family here,” Dante says. “We like to have some class.”
My fist clenches and I hear a growl come out. What the fuck is he thinking talking to her like that?
“Dante!” Amari looks horrified as she confronts him, never really seeing this side to someone she has known her whole life.
Lilly takes another bite of her pizza as if the words were never said. Since she’s fine, I decide to change the subject and ask Dave about the new car he ordered. But I’m barely containing ripping his fucking head off.
Lilly stands, lifting her purse from the chair. “I’m just going to the ladies’ room.”
Amari is quick to jump up. “Me too!”
Sucks to say, but I’m relieved. At least I won’t be worrying about her bolting out the back door. Once the girls leave, I tell Tommy to call back Pauly. And the next ten minutes is wasted hearing about a problem with his son’s business partner.
16
Lilly
ApartfromDantebeinga dick, and my body still reeling from Ren’s lips, the night has been quite fun. Amari is sweet, and I see what Ren means about her being sheltered from the harsh truth of this life. She’s just kind of floating, like a little cloud drifting through the air where unicorns and princes live, blind to the evil and deceit of the world.
But it doesn’t change the fact I need to get the hell out of here as soon as possible. Especially after what happened back at the house. That’s why I wasn’t clucking away in my room like a chicken, but instead was waiting at the door for Ren to take me to dinner.
Every minute with him awakens me, slowly chipping away at my resolve and heart. He’s making me see things I know can never be. I want to crawl into his arms and never leave, but I can’t let him affect me like that. I’ll end up with a broken heart and even worse, a broken soul.
When Amari apologizes for Dante acting like a jerk, I ignore the conversation. Instead, I start looking around the bathroom for a window I can use to escape. There’s several along the wall, but the one in the corner cubicle is particularly big, so I head straight for it. Fingers crossed; it’s unlocked. Stepping into the cubicle, I close the door behind me.
“I can’t believe he’s acting like this.” Amari’s voice comes from the cubicle next to me.
“Ah huh,” I mutter, jostling the lock of the window.
It opens with a faint creak and I wince, listening to see if she heard it.
“It’s just so not like him,” she says, oblivious to my actions.
“Yeah?” I answer on auto pilot.
Crap! There’s a screen blocking the window. I wonder if I can… Yep. With a nudge, I pop the corner out from its slot.
Bingo.
“I mean, he’s normally the biggest sweet talker out of all of them!”
I scoff at the thought, but I’m not just any girl. I’m one that’s bringing a world of trouble to the family, he’s just the only one to see it. But I won’t be around long enough to cause those problems. Not answering her, I peek out the window. There’s a bigger drop than I expected, but nothing I can’t handle.
“Don’t worry about it. It doesn’t bother me.” Satisfied with my prep work, I flush the toilet and open the door, walking to the basin.
After a few moments, Amari steps beside me and turns to me with compassion in her eyes. “I’m really sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into him.”
“Amari, you don’t need to apologise for something someone else did. He’s not you. He’s a big boy.”
She nods and bites her lip with indecision in her eyes. She glances at the door before looking back at me.
“Um,” she says. “I just I kept thinking about you all night. With what you said, I wanted to check and see if you were okay?”
See, sweet.
And I regret bringing her into the drama. I dry my hands with a paper towel, then turn to her.
“I’m okay. Thanks for asking.” If okay means stuck in a heightened sense of panic, feeling like the clocks ticking.
