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Acheron stiffened.
"I d-didn't know it then, but now...now I know -I was wrong.I was so wrong, Acheron. Love isn't about avoiding risks. It's the opposite, actually. It's about taking risks -together." Her voice caught as a wild rush of emotions struck her, and she just felt so, so much.
So here's to taking another risk—-
"I love you, Acheron."
Acheron inhaled sharply.
"And I think...I can...I can..."
Take a risk, Pippi.
"I can make you love me."
Acheron couldn't - wouldn't - let himself speak.
Because people who loved them only ended up getting hurt.
And he had to fucking remember that.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that." He could feel Pippi's heart breaking at the words, but he hardened himself against it. He was doing this for her. He was doing this because she was right, and he loved her. "In fact, I think it's best if we both pretend nothing ever happened between us."
Pippi couldn't believe what she was hearing."No—-"Pretend nothing ever happened between them? "No. No. No!" And this time, the word came out a sob.
"I'm sorry," he bit out.
"But I l-love you—-"
"Goddammit, Pippi—-"
"I love you!"
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
"I'm sorry," he said doggedly.
And the line went dead.
****
AMELIA SLIPPED SILENTLYaway as soon as she was certain the call between Acheron and Pippi Jones had ended, and there was nothing else for her to listen to.Jesus Christ, but that woman was so damn hard to get rid of.
She needed a plan.
And she needed to act on it fast.
****
"YOU WANT A DRINK...now?"It was only nine in the evening, but that one phone call with Pippi had completely drained Acheron, and the thought of having to go out and surround himself with strangers was as appealing as the idea of drinking poison.
"It's been weeks already, and the furor over Anthony's death's died down. They stopped giving a fuck about me the moment the police caught his murderer." When Acheron still didn't look convinced, she adopted a light, cajoling tone, "Just one drink, Acheron - please?"
He thought about numbing himself to the emptiness inside of him with a drink, and he said reluctantly, "Fine." Amelia's doctors at the clinic had said liquor was alright, anyway, as long as it was consumed with moderation.
Acheron took them to a nearby pub, and after ordering her drink Amelia excused herself to go to the ladies. She made a call as soon as she had placed enough distance between her and Acheron, tipping the press about their location and promising them a money shot if they came within half an hour.
It should be enough to pretend that she had gotten herself drunk, Amelia considered, and with it she could make her move.
