Just like Serena’s.
Oh my God. He was calling me from Serena’s phone. I pulled the phone away from my ear and checked to be sure.
My voice was shaky as I asked, “Are you with her right now? Is she listening?” I didn’t specify who I meant. Something told me he knew.
“I’ve been mulling things over lately,” he said in a flat and emotionless voice.
“You sound funny. Are you okay?”
“You and I, we’re different, Olivia. Not even the same species.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I need to be with someone more like me.”
“What are you saying? Is this a joke? Because I don’t think it’s?—”
“Someone who understands what it’s like to be immortal.”
Liz’s hand closed over my shoulder, giving me a shake. “What’s going on?” she mouthed.
I swatted her off.
“Serena understands me.”
I didn’t realize I was sobbing until I spoke. “What’s happened? Why are you doing this?”
“She’ll never grow old. Never die. But you will, Olivia.”
“I thought we were happy!” I wailed. “What did I do?”
“I’ve been burying the feelings I had for Serena so long ago. Seeing her again, it stirred something inside me.”
“What the fuck?” I shrieked. I made ugly clicking sounds inmy throat as I struggled to regain my composure. Nobody ever sounds respectable when they’re crying in anger. “I can’t believe it, Robert.”
“You must. We’re over.”
“No, I mean Iliterallycannot believe what you’re saying! You sound possessed. This isn’t you.”
“It is me. I’m sorry . . .” he said, fading out.
It sounded like he was far, far away. Probably sitting in a bathtub naked with that tart Serena in some opulent Parisian townhouse—which, despite my devastated state, I knew was ridiculous given how long it would have taken Robert to travel to France from California. Even if he’d hopped on a flight the second I’d walked out the door to meet Nick, he’d still be over America. That still didn’t stop the burning rage I felt.
When I couldn’t take the silence any longer, I said, “I find it incredibly hard to believe that in the past—” I looked at my wrist, though I’d never worn a watch “—few hoursyou decided that, no, you actually aren’t in love with me. And, suddenly, you need to be with some vampire skank you claimed you’d never met prior to our trip to Scotland.”
I didn’t care if Serena was eavesdropping as I disparaged her. She could go to hell, as far as I was concerned.
More silence on his end, but Liz’s mouth practically fell to her chest as she understood what was going on. She muttered a few curse words, all aimed at Robert.
“Well?” I demanded, since he still hadn’t said a word. I felt I deserved an explanation beyond silence.
“I don’t know what to tell you,” he said, his tone devoid of emotion.
“You don’t know what to tell me?” I repeated, incredulous. “I don’t accept that. I can’t! I won’t! Please don’t do this, Robert!”
I cringed at my desperation. So much for dignity.
“I don’t expect you to leave right away. I’ll give you time to find a new place to live,” he said.
