“Hey,” Raven said.
The last thing she was, was rude.“Hello.”
“I’ve been calling for you, for days,” Raven said.
“I told Dad I didn’t want to speak to anyone.”
“Or leave the house.”
Larissa frowned.“You were watching the house?”
“I had to, I needed to know you were safe,” Raven said.
“Safe?”
“Look, you’re going through a lot, and I get that.I don’t want you to be a stranger.Ava wanted to reach out and tell you that your job is still secure.”
“I’m not going to work for Ava,” Larissa said.
“You’re not even going to give two-weeks’ notice?”Raven asked.
“No, I’m not.That’s unprofessional, I know, but I can’t do it.”If she went back to work for Ava, she would never leave, and she didn’t want to do that.She needed to have a completely clean break from Ava and the club.
“You know, he’s a dick, right?A stupid piece of shit,” Raven said.
Larissa paused in reaching for the trunk of the car.“No, he’s not.”She put the bags into the back of the car.“I’m the one who is the idiot.He never promised me anything.I never even second-guessed why he was suddenly into me.I had no idea it could have been a bet between friends.That is on me, not him.”
“He knew better.”
“Why?Because I’m any different from the other women he was with?”
“They knew what they were getting themselves into.”
“And as a full-grown woman, so did I.”That wasn’t the truth, because never in a million years had she anticipated this.This was awful, and made her feel like a total fool.
She had told him she loved him, and that is what hurt the most.She had fallen in love with him, while he didn’t love her.She should have known this.
“You’re not used to the way men are.”
“And now I am,” Larissa said.“Life is about lessons, I’ve just learned mine.”She closed the trunk of the car.“I’ve got to go, Raven.”
“You were there for me,” Raven said.“You were there when I didn’t think anyone was, and especially when I didn’t deserve anyone.”
Larissa looked to her friend.
“Let me be there for you.”
“You’re part of the club, Raven.I don’t know a lot, but I know enough to know that ...it’s not my place.”
She offered Raven a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes.She truly didn’t feel like smiling at all.
****
Larissa wouldn’t takehis calls.
Jonah wouldn’t allow him close to the house.
The club was not currently talking to him.Well, most of the club wasn’t talking to him.
