I disassociate from the moment. I know Brody’s guiding me, smoothing his hand over my spine. But I’m not here, not partaking in reality. My arms are wrapped around my much larger tummy, and Lance governs the moment.
“She meant nothing.”
“Did you have feelings for her? Or any of the other hoes?”
“You know damn well, Justice, I have a reputation to uphold.”
I’m brought back by Brody clasping my face. His eyes are trained on me, and he wears a mask chiseled in regret. We’re alone in an empty room. The sliding glass door is open, and somewhere outside, a happy-go-lucky blue jay chirps. The warm breeze whistles through the palm trees. The world is revolving on a sunny day in smoggy Los Angeles, though it has stopped for me.
Brody gestures with his hands, passionate about something other than his lovely lies. “I’m feckingapologizing to ye, Justice. I have never said that in my entire—”
“Fuck you.” Disappointment tears through my soul like a serrated knife. “You said verbatim, ‘It was always meant to be a lie.’ You didn’t play me. I played myself for a fucking fool, forgetting the horns on top of your head.”
He has the nerve to look gutted. “I tried so hard to tell ya!”
“When?”
The man who exudes confidence opens his mouth and stalls for a moment. “In the airport parking . . .”
I fold my arms. There’s more. There has to be more.
“In the tub at the spa. This morning,” he huffs, “when we, uh, first arrived, before Mia—”
“Oooh? A small child’s your excuse?”
“Ye know I fecking tried,” he growls.
“Yeah, a big, strong killer like you. Actually, you deserve some credit.” I slow clap. “You have half a conscious! So, I get a crummy-ass apology.” I swallow hard in a bid to ease the tightness in my throat.
A deafening silence surrounds us, except for that imposing blue jay right outside. I want to strangle it half to death.
“Lass, listen to me, this isn’t—”
“You changed me. You’ve lowered my moral character, and not with sex. Check this,” I step closer to Brody, “because if we keep conversing, I’ll stop deliberating over the million ways I’d like to murder you and follow through. You make me want to commit murder.”
“Justice,” Brody grits out, pure rage flitting across his face.
“Bravo, Brody. I could kill right now—no remorse. I. Could. Kill. You. Goodbye forever!”