𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝙺𝙸𝙽 𝚂𝙷𝙾𝚆

11 - GABI'S CONFESSION

It was embarrassing the way Marcus’s name slipped from my lips when I was riding Paxton. It wasn’t just a slip of the tongue; it was a betrayal, a crack in the fragile facade I had carefully constructed.

The way Paxton’s face twisted in hurt when I moaned the wrong name—it haunted me. I ruined everything with Paxton before anything had even started.

When I arrived home, hoping to hide from my shame, I found that Gabi had seized my room.

"I couldn't focus in my room," she said, flippantly, when I demanded an explanation.

"And why so?" I asked, already knowing I wouldn’t like the answer.

"You know how messy my room is!" she pouted, batting her lashes as if that would soften me.

"Alright. Leave now," I said, my patience wearing thin.

"Nope," she stood up from my study and crossed her arms. "Not that easy to get rid of me!"

"What?" I yelled, frustration bubbling over. Why do siblings have to be so damn annoying?

"If you—" she paused, as if savoring the moment, testing my already meager patience."Speak and get lost from here."

"If you tell me what happened between you and Mike."

Marcus!

"Why?" I asked, knowing how nosey she could be.

"I'm your sister, after all," she replied, shrugging like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Alright, alright," I conceded. She wouldn’t budge until I gave her a believable sob story, and being in the film industry, I knew exactly how to trick people into trusting me. I was a pretty good liar."Actually, his father decided to get him engaged with some bitch—"

"Who?" she cut in, eyes wide with interest."Mimi Gomez."

"OMG, like, the real Mimi G?" she clasped her hands together, excitement bubbling over. "I follow her! She's sweet—"

I nearly choked at the thought of Gabi praising that bitch who had threatened me on our first meeting.

"Yeah, whatever. She's the reason for my heartbreak."

"Is she and your ex getting married?" Her face dropped. "She's hiding her engagement from her followers!"

"Really!" I rolled my eyes. "That's what you care about?"

"I'll tell you the truth. You are no match for her." Her words hit me like a slap, and I felt my hands clench into fists.

"He's lucky to have her," she concluded. My lips twitched, but I forced myself to stay silent."Whatever, I hardly care," I forced myself to say, each word tasting bitter on my tongue.

Gabi, oblivious to my inner turmoil, changed the subject. "How's your love life?"

"Ah—well," she blushed, her entire face lighting up in a way that made me both proud and envious.

"What the hell! Did you lose your virginity?" I asked, unable to hide the surprise in my voice.

"Nope, but it won't be long," she giggled, twirling around the room in a display of innocent joy. "I'm actually seeing someone. He's the best thing that ever happened to me."She twirled around the room while describing her secret boyfriend, and through her words, I could tell the guy was decent.