"I want to love you again, but I don't know how. Maybe I'm not like the moon. The moon is pure, an incandescent light in the midst of bitter darkness.
I have never been that forgiving."
WARNING: This is Book Three. If you have not read "affluenza"...
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I BRUSH BACK my wet strands of hair slowly, not bothering to dry them since I still felt far too awake. Bridget and Bethany chat aimlessly on our group FaceTime as I do so, and I've all but tuned them out when Bethany clears her throat. "What?" I ask, eyebrows raised. "Do I have something in my teeth? I just flossed, I swear to god—"
She purses her lips as if fighting back a laugh. "No. But you do have a hickey the size of Australia on your neck."
A hand comes up to my throat, the bruise that'd blossomed four days ago and still hadn't gone away. "In my defense, Australia is the smallest continent."
Bridget laughs. "Who's the culprit?"
I make a face. "Well, I wasn't going to say anything because it's not a big deal—"
"So, it's the biggest of deals," Bethany interrupts. "Got it."
I glower at her. "Roman's back. We hooked up. I will not be saying more on the subject."
The twins' eyes widen. And then, as if on cue, the two of them scream, "you're hooking up with your ex-boyfriend?!"
I roll my eyes, tucking my wet hair behind my ears. "Okay, okay, I know. It's not the best idea, but it was just a one-time thing."
"That you definitely want to happen again," Bridget retorts. "Admit it, B. You're not over this guy."
I swallow hard, staring down at my little cousins and wondering when did I start coming to them for guy talk. "I don't want closure. At least, I'm convincing myself I don't. It's just, every time I see him, I get so mad I can hardly stand it. And I hate that he can get me like that. I hate how much I care."
Bethany's eyebrows turn down. "I suppose you're an adult who makes his own decisions. It's no surprise that you make the wrong ones, but..."
We all laugh loudly and then Bridget is waving goodbye. "I've gotta go," she says, glancing at something behind her screen. "My girlfriend will be here soon and she's not the most patient person. Plus, we have a dinner reservation and I don't want them to give away our table."
"Back up," I hiss, eyes wide in amusement. "Girlfriend?!"
Bridget blushes wildly. "I forgot to tell you," she murmurs sheepishly. "I'm seeing someone. Yes, she happens to be a girl. Is that cool?"
I balk, my jaw dropping to the floor. "Is this you coming out to me? I've never been come out to before!" I laugh. "Of course, it's cool. Does she treat you nicely? Is she pretty? You two aren't having sex, right?"
"Braylen," Bridget groans, but she's laughing. "Yes, yes, and what the hell do you think?"
I shudder uncomfortably. "Okay, okay. I won't 'big brother' you anymore," I say, still grinning. "Huh. I had a hunch at least one of you wasn't as straight as a line. My money was on Bethany."
