Buried secrets, two girls with the same face, and a boy who loved too much.
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When Travis and Nicole meet on a bus for the first time, he thinks she's his ex, Rachel, who broke his heart two years ago. But he doesn't understand why she's pretendin...
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HE'D SAID HE'D LIKE TO control his father's brain.
Thinking back, I realized I shouldn't have laughed at that.
I was supposed to be here earlier, but was really late because I'd been caught up in finishing my assignments.
I'd contemplated on shooting Cornelia a text to cancel, but I wanted to see my boyfriend anyway, even if for just a few minutes, so I came.
Looking at the chaos taking place in their tasteful living room, my heart pounded painfully in my chest.
It was impossible to stop myself from crying as I listened to the cruel words his own father said to him, as I watched the kind and lovely Frances throw herself at her husband and shove him, crying in anger and hurling curses at him.
Russell hurried away, escaping from the female rage.
Travis walked past everything and everyone, movements robotic.
It broke my heart to see the fight leave him. Watching his slumped shoulders was so painful I had to clutch my chest as if it'd soothe the searing heat that blazed there.
The horrifying thing was, Travis didn't seem surprised by the words his dad had said. It was as if he was used to them, expected them even. How could anyone bear to hear such things from their own father?
He'd watched his dad with empty eyes, head cocked slightly to the side, trying to make sense of how a man could be so hateful toward his own blood. But he hadn't been surprised.
As for Cornelia, she was a crying mess in heels, and Huxley never left her side.
After Russell disappeared upstairs, Frances pulled her daughter into a comforting hug. Cornelia kept begging her, sobbing, telling her she was "sorry for being a brat," "sorry for being a pain," and "sorry for being difficult."
"Shh, it's okay, baby." Frances kissed her cheek. "I'm also so sorry for not explaining to you more—"
"I'm so sorry Mama so sorry I promise I'm going to be a good girl and not bother you anymore I won't even get in your way I just want you to love me still because what would I do if you didn't? You're my everything—"
I turned away, blinking hard.
Now, following Travis to the pool, I wiped my tears on the sleeve of my shirt. He didn't need me to see me breaking down too.
Tonight, I'd be his strength.
He tugged off his sweatshirt in one simple sweep and dove into the water with a splash, going under for a while before resurfacing, his back facing me. He swam a bit, strong back muscles rippling, the underwater lights glowing blue over his skin.
Something underneath my breastbone stirred.
There was something exceptionally raw about him tonight, a rawness he was trying to leash. He went under again, came up for air, and ran his hand through his soaked hair.
