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After one whole hour of watching hi andsecond My eyes teeter between alert and sleepy, occasionally falling over the edge and allowing me to take a micro-nap I wake myself up because I don’t want to fall asleep I don’t want to deal with this tomorroant it to be over now I’ll sit up, so I don’t fall asleep My toes twitch at the thought, but ather energy, but after the sixth atte this situation to linger until tomorrow

Chapter Seventeen

Seth

My knuckles throb and the skin threatens to split as I thrustone last ti stupid? I’nored her calls for the last ten lected to respond to any of her voicemails Sweat coats my body and I bend down to retrieve my shirt from the floor I run it over my face and the back ofe of her naked body bombards my mind and I recoil fro naked for ht She’s not stepping another godda to do with it

I turn around, ready to make my way back to the room, but I’ht of her tired body alshas she been lying on that hard bench?

I res upstairs and I reainst the wall She’d never admit it, but I could see the absolute fear in her eyes, like she was scared I was going to turn on her like a wild dog Soht of her seeing me some off She should feel safe, always, and I’d never hurt her physically She’s so small compared to me…it’s funny how someone so small can co fore to wake her up and tell her how sorry I am eats at me I wanted to clear this up before she fell asleep All I needed was a little et like this…all anxious and crazy, I can’t talk Theto explain or even listen to people try and explain things toI need to be left with h it alone If I don’t, I end up saying and doing stupid shit I’ll regret when I’ her all exhausted and aloneher just so she can look at reen eyes--then I know the pressure in , I’ll tell her everything As much as it kills me to even think about, I’ll tell Olivia that my sister is apparently a stripper at The Spearmint Rhino She’ll understand

I throwOlivia up into my ar up, she drank way too hard tonight--and how’s Jackson’s fucking for slip abouthim for info on my personal life and he has never slipped up, not once, but the one time I needed him to keep hisforShe’s one big bag of e you say or do can provoke a different reaction every time This time, she was cool with it--which was one hundred percent unexpected considering her reaction to the girl at the restaurant If she decided to flip and leave, I don’t knohat I would’ve done But she shrugged it off like it was no big deal and I don’t knohether I should feel bad or relieved I know Selena sees Olivia as weak because she bends tobut weak Sure, she stayed with her douche ex for a ridiculous amount of time after he cheated on her repeatedly, but that isn’t weakness, either That is fucking strength I couldn’t handle constantly looking at the face of someone who betrayed me It’s not her fault Olivia is a ronites it in those who care to know her She believes people can change even if they prove to her a million tihty at tio Blade has done a very good job at training her to deflect her es that should upset her don’t and things that don’t really o into hyper drive and she doesn’t kno to express the they need that she doesn’t realize when people are helping her and when people are attacking her

I sigh and dip my lips toward Olivia’s damp head and I kiss it Hopefully, I’ll always be around to help So as to erase all of her doubts of e lance down at her face I don’t wantto come because I’m afraid to look her in the face when she wakes up What if I’ve left it too long and the daet Olivia back to the bedroonifies it’s two a my little sister is still out and about in this fucked up city I don’t knohere Kye is, but when I see hiht side of the bed Normally, that’swith Olivia, I’ve opted for the left because she also likes the right side I pull a light sheet over her and she shifts onto her side If I ignore the slight furroeen her brows, she looks peaceful

I turn from the bed and leave the room I drop my t-shirt on the stairs and sit doith a loud exhale I know I should be trying to get soht (technically) but I can’t sleep, not after tonight, and definitely not after seeing et her No sister of mine will dance for money--and what pisses nored her calls and I refused to get back to her because I’ht up in howthat I didn’t care to kno Maddi’s was panning out

I reach for my shirt and pull it overto have to do I use the rail to pull myself to et to the door, I pull it open and instantly er and relief She’s clothed, at least, in a loose t-shirt and a pair of tight, black skinny jeans My eyes zero in on a s along her collar bone

"Don’t look at the past e toainst it I watch her as she stuffs her hands into the back pocket of her jeans and strolls around the e with an as when you’re upset, I see"

"Skip the bullshit, Maddi," I snap "What the fuck?"

She tucks one side of her long black hair behind her ear, all while her brown eyes glare at me "Now you want to talk? Do I have to show up unannounced just so you’ll talk to me?"

I shakeyou for help, but you ignored me"

I push off of the door "I’ve been busy--look where you’re standing It took et here"

Maddi flinches, her eyes narrow into accusing slits "I couldn’t give two shits if I’ht now Theto me" She strolls toward the kitchen "You couldn’t even spare one second for your sister? Faainst the white, square kitchen island and plucks a grape off its bunch before popping it into her mouth

"I know that word better than you You left me to deal with Mom when you knew she and I have a difficult relationship"

Maddi s for you?"

"How’s that going? She’s in a rehab facility in California That’s how it’s going"

Her posture stiffens "And you didn’t think to call and tellto do with her after she hit you Why would I call you? So you can tellcare! She’s stillmy shoulders and she rolls her eyes at my attitude Why does she always ue like children Anyway, going over this is pointless--it won’t change anything It won’t get Mo problem

"Where the hell is Kye?" I ask her "I want to see him"

And just like that, I see the color drain froht red lipstick lessens in its hue

"I don’t knohere he is"

She’s lying I can tell by the way she averts her gaze and her eyelids flutter