“Thank you,” I said to Cynthia.
After all that talking, I ended up at the Merciers. After trying to use my credit cards and bank account, I found out they were in the beneficiary’s hands. When I heard those words, I knew Bobbie wasn’t coming back. I had to go through hell and high water to find out he was dead. Hearing those words made me sick because it meant that my financial needs were at the mercy of Braylen. He had been calling me, probably to tell me about his father, but I was in the midst of trying to survive. When I discovered Braylen had deadbolted the locks on that house, I was speechless. Everything I owned was inside, and he had taken it all from me. It was devastating to pull up and try to enter a place I considered my perfect home, only to be turned away by my own staff.
The only thing I had left was the Prestige, and that was only if Braylen didn’t know about it.
Cynthia sat across from me and sipped her tea. “What are your plans now?” she asked.
I wanted to scream, “bitch I need money.” Instead, I mustered up a fake smile. “I’m Fiona, I’m going to bounce back. With the Prestige, I should have some money coming in, right?”
Cynthia’s grin scared me. “Sure, I mean, considering my grandson has not gone forth with the project. The money you and Bobbie put in would be given back to you,” she paused as she took another sip of her tea. “If Braylen doesn’t show up.”
I nervously sipped from the cup. “He doesn’t know about it. As long as your grandson minds his business, I will be fine. Besides, the Prestige isn’t Braylen’s speed. Even if he were invited, he wouldn’t show up.”
Or that’s what I hoped. If I were able to get the money back from what we spent, I would have to downgrade some. However, all I needed was some time, and I’m sure Mister would have space for me. It would take a little begging and dick sucking, but then I would be back like I never left. I gave Cynthia a tight-lipped smile as I set the cup down and stood from the chair. As I headed out to leave, one of Grace’s twin daughters came down the steps. She looked so much like June, I didn’t know what to think. I cleared my throat and grabbed my fur coat.
“Merry Christmas, Fiona. You know you’re welcome to stay,” Cynthia said to me.
I put on the only expensive thing I had, my coat. “Where is Clark?” I mumbled.
“Clark and I are separated because just like you, he cannot find a way out of the game he created.”
A tear rolled down my face because for the first time, I was terrified of what things would look like for me.
“It’s just me and my granddaughter, Tania. There is plenty of food,” she added.
I froze, torn between my desire for a warm Christmas meal with family and the reality that my efforts were done. What was a good few hours when it couldn’t last a lifetime. Without bothering to look back, I stepped out into the wintery white snow. I hoped like hell things worked out because if they didn’t, it would be me left with nothing or no one.
PAIGE
PRESS PLAY
After all the chaos at Zoomas, it showed the kind of people the Zoo were. They had made me feel at home and loved. They never questioned anything and welcomed me like family. They were a little high-strung, but nothing I couldn’t manage. Braylen rushing out of the dinner struck something in me. A part of me wanted to let him run, but I knew there were things I needed to get off my chest. My head was in a different space now, and I felt like this conversation we were about to have was needed.
When he turned around to look at me, I didn’t know whether I wanted to slap his ass or scream, “I want you to love me the way I love you.” He came closer and took my hand. He led me to his car, opened the door for me, and I got in. When he joined me, he immediately turned on the car so the heat could run. Soft, mellow music played as we stared at each other in silence for the first couple of minutes.
Braylen’s head fell back on the headrest. “I first saw you when I picked Leek up one night. The moment you stepped ontothat fucking porch changed my life. Then you were in my world, on campus, watching me just as I was watching you. I-I,” he paused as he ran his hand over his face. “I tried fighting what I was feeling your freshman year. I tried really hard, but the feeling kept coming back, and I knew then you were the girl for me,” he started.
His head slowly rolled towards me. “I-I became obsessed. And when you applied for the podcast, God, I was happy. I was so fucking happy because now I would have you to myself, even if it were for a few hours. Paige, I—”
“The game?” I asked.
He shook his head. “When I was younger, I always had a vision of this place. It was a place I felt I lived in. Fiona destroyed me, and in my mind, I created this version of myself that felt like it protected my inner child, but all it did was turn me into something,” he paused. “Something sick, crazy, and scary. So, when my parents cut me off, I created the game. It was my way of controlling the shit that happened around me. When I found out you were into it, that shit turned into something different. It turned into a world I created for us to both live, even if it were virtual.”
“I get all of it, even you liking me before I knew who you were. What I don’t understand is why? Why would you let me lie in your bed and turn your back on me? Then come back, do what you did, and leave again. It’s like you wanted me to chase you, and you knew, Braylen. You knew how I felt about you. You saw me cry, and still, you did nothing.” I said to him.
I knew there was a lot between us, but him stringing me along, playing games with my heart, was something he was good at. So, it was hard for me to open my heart fully. I would always question whether he would love me one day and walk away the next. He placed his hand on my chin, turning my head towardhim. “The truth is, I was afraid. I was afraid that although I knew what I felt, I wasn’t capable of loving you properly. In my eyes, if I couldn’t love you the way you wanted, I was willing to take any extension of you I could. I fucked up, and I’m sorry. I’m peeling layers back by the day, but the one thing I know is that I fucking love Paige, not Piggy, but Paige. I don’t want to be alone because I’m scared. All my life I’ve been alone, and now I have the chance to share my world freely with someone, and I choose you.”
His lip disappeared between his teeth as he brought his face closer. Our noses touched as his eyes closed slowly. “Baby, don’t walk away from me, please.”
I stared at him, trying to wrap my mind around everything. There was no question that I felt the same way, but now my fear was that his heart wouldn’t remain open. He slowly opened his eyes, and a tear slid down his face.Love me, baby,he mouthed as his lips grazed mine.
Now I wanted to flip it on him. “What if it were me doing exactly what you did?” I asked.
I could see a twitch in his eyes. He knew the playing field wouldn’t be the same. He knew it wouldn’t be him in this very same position doing this, and that made it hard for me to accept his apology. I let out a shaky breath. I kissed him. I kissed him like it was the very first time. I fed my lips to him just as I loved him. I slowly pulled away. “I love you, Braylen, but I don’t think I can do this. Merry Christmas,” I said as I opened the car door and got out.
I didn’t know if I was making the right choice, but Pyran was still stuck in front of that cave. I don’t know if it was fear or fate, but closing that door on him fucked me up.
PRESS PLAY
