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“I-I don’t know!” Lies on lies on lies. That’s all I’m capable of lately. “The guy is unhinged, what do you want me to say?”
“You’ve been disappearing a lot lately. Everyone notices that you look skittish and out of your depth. Your dad got you a fucking guard dog, for fuck’s sake. You’re in trouble, Billie. We can see it. Just admit it’s him, and we can deal with it.”
“There’s nothing to admit.”
“You’re scared of him,” he finally says. “You can tell me that.”
“I’m not scared of anything,” my pride snaps back.
“Okay,” he nods. “Fine.”
We look at each other for long seconds, and I feel him softening. “I’m just worried for you. You know I care about you.” I nod, and he adds, “A lot.”
“I know. I care about you too.”
His head drops into my neck, and I barely restrain a gasp. “What are you doing?” I whisper in panic.
I go to push him away, but he keeps me flat against the wall. He kisses me from my shoulder all the way to my earlobe and whispers in my ear, “I care beyond friendship, Billie. You know that. How long do you intend on making me wait before you reciprocate those feelings?”
I gulp and push at his chest. “I can’t give you a timeline on feelings,” I say softly. “I love you deeply. And I know we’ve been walking a fine line between friendship and more. But I don’t think it will ever go beyond that.”
He takes a step back, clearly dejected. “You’ve not been yourself lately.”
“Or maybe it’s the opposite.”
"Right,” he snorts. “You keep lying to yourself.”
He finally leaves me alone, walking back into the living room, and I follow.
We’re mid-Monopoly, everyone shouting at each other, when I notice my dad slipping away discreetly to the back porch. I know Sam is out there smoking, and I doubt he’s going there to have a friendly conversation with him.
“Is it true, Rose White is back?” Xi asks his brother out of the blue as the arguing dies down.
Lik plays with his nose ring before nodding. “Yeah. Sam’s been going a bit insane from it.” He turns to me next. “Happy your bestie is back in town?”
“Fuck off,” I grunt low.
She doesn’t belong to any crew; she’s just a pathetic foster kid who ended up in Stoneview and yet somehow always found her way to North Shore parties. We had a huge argument at a party one day and then again at a lacrosse tournament. Neither of us seems to get over it, so we simply keep hating each other. I heard she was getting mixed up with Lik and his boyfriend, and if she ends up in my business because of that, I will probably lose my shit. I don’t need any more drama in my life right now.
My eyes dart to the door my dad just walked through.
Lik notices because he attempts to bring me back into the game by pointing out I was cheating. I struggle to stay still, knowing he’s up to something.
I get up, except he’s quicker than me. He walks to the back door, and a few seconds later, he and Sam are walking back in. Sam’s eyes dart to me, and he quickly says goodbye to Aisha before heading out. Lik hugs us all goodbye, and I don’t even get to ask anything.
I walk to the back porch to talk to my dad. He’s facing away from me but raises a hand before I can open my mouth. “Not now, Billie,” he says sternly.
I let out a loud huff and hurry to the front door. I’m fucking fuming. I know they’ve all been talking about me. Sam and Lik’s car is just leaving when I slam my hand against the window. My eyes widen when Sam takes his gun out, not even looking at who it is. Lik is the one grabbing his wrist and pointing at me.
As soon as he lowers the window, I talk. “What did he say?” He doesn’t reply because he doesn’t like talking and even less about stupid shit like this. “Sam. What did my dad ask you to do?” Ignoring me completely, Sam looks at Lik, expecting him to sort this out.
“Lik, what did my dad tell you? I’m fine,” I insist, having a feeling I know what they’re doing. They think they can protect me and go against the Kings, especially against Caden.
They can’t. Our crew doesn’t have that kind of power anymore, and if they try to threaten Caden King, it will start a war.
I will not be the reason people start dying on the North Shore. We have it hard enough without needing a motherfucking gang war on our hands.
“Bil’s—” He tries to sound reassuring, but I don’t let him.
