Page 45 of The Bitter Words

I let myself dream for a second. Being a fashion designer would be the best if only I had the guts to do it. I sigh and open the door to find Zara resting against the wall.

Fucking great. Why is she here?

I try to pass by her.

“If it isn’t my best friend in the whole world.” She pushes off the wall and steps in front of me. “What? Not even a simple hello, or does my presence intimidate you that much?”

“You don’t scare me. It’s more like you’re invisible to me.”

“Sure. My guess is I haunt you in your dreams.”

“Hardly. You’re nothing but a?—”

She grabs my hand, flips it over, and checks out my wrist. “Holy shit! It was true. You did try to off yourself.”

I rip my arm away from her. “I did not.”

“Oh, yes, you did. You have scars to prove it.”

“Those aren’t… You know what? I don’t have to explain anything to you.” My heart beats hard. “Believe whatever you want.”

“Shit, Livianna. I could sell you out so easily right now.”

“Try it and see what happens.”

She slaps her hand to her breastplate and gasps, feigning shock. When she does, a shiny white gold necklace with an Irish trinity knot pendant that has a black onyx in the center of it that’s hanging from her neck snags my attention.

She starts to say something but notices me staring.

She cups the pendant in her palm with an evil smirk appearing. “Yes, I still wear the keepsake Callum gave me.”

My eyes snap to hers. “He’s Cash to you.”

“Not true. Ask him if you don’t believe me. I used to call him Callum all the time. Remember, he just recently changed his name to Cash. Although I catch myself calling him Cash more often because it’s so much…edgier.”

I get in her face. “If I hear you call him Callum ever again, consider yourself dead.”

“Is that a threat?” She inches closer to me so we’re nose to nose.

Her perfume swirls around me. Or is it mine? I narrow my eyes and take a whiff of her skin. The bitch is wearing the same scent I do.

I push her against the wall and dig my finger into the center of her chest. “You want to be me so much you started using the same perfume as me. That’s just pathetic.”

Bren pulls me away and slides between us. “Ladies, chill out.”

“Tell your suicidal sister that.” Zara flicks her hair away from her face. “She’s the one who needs some serious mental help.”

“Shut the fuck up, Zara.” Bren glares. “Why are you even here?”

A slick smile curls her lips. “Didn’t you hear?”

He shakes his head with a scowl. “Hear what?”

“I got out of acting and went into music.” She takes a dramatic pause while analyzing my reaction. “I’m working with Leon now.”

“Couldn’t make it as an actor, so you switched to singing?”Bren shrugs as if he couldn’t care less. “I feel bad for you, Zara.”

Her face bunches up. “Why?”