I've a lot on my mind. Work things.
He looked me in the eye and lied. The worst part is he knew I knew it was a lie and he didn't care enough to give me a better one.
I gave up on sleep at five this morning, there was no point in even trying anymore. The sun was starting to rise by the time I dragged myself out of bed and I sat at the window watching it. I know that it was Daire that put that distance between Lorenzo and I. I saw her speaking with him, and then he asked about Orla.
Whatever Daire told him, it worked. My sister is good at making sure people are isolated, and she does it so fucking convincingly. Just a few words here or there that she manages to disguise as concern, and the next thing, her victim is on the outskirts watching, wondering what the hell happened. That’s exactly what I’m doing right now.
I glance down at the ring that Lorenzo gave me, the one that I was so happy to receive. I had thought that maybe things were starting to look up for me, that finally I wouldn’t have to live in a house where I’m barely tolerated.
Less than five weeks before I’m living with Lorenzo and now I'm dreading it. At least with living in this house I know what I’m up against. I had hope about how I could escape this, and now that’s all ripped to shreds.
I have no escape anymore. I guess I’ve always been destined to become someone no one loves or cares for. I should have known better than to get my hopes up at becoming anything other than a nobody.
I enter the breakfast room and come to a halt. Usually, I eat alone. Sometimes with Caden if he's managed to drag himself out of bed before noon. Today, everyone seems to have appeared at once. Mam is seated beside Da at the table, both of them hidden behind newspapers. Dáire is beside Mam, Conn beside her, home from college for a few days and already acting like he'd rather be anywhere else. Dáithí occupies the seat on Da's left. Only Caden and I are missing.
“Morning,” Daithí says as I take a seat beside him.
“Morning,” I reply softly as I make myself a cup of tea and some toast.
“You okay?” he asks so that only I can hear him.
“Grand,” I lie, and I know he knows that I’m lying, but neither of us comments any further.
I hear footsteps behind me, and Caden sinks onto the chair beside me, a smile on his face as he knocks his knee against mine under the table. I don’t say anything, but I appreciate that he’s beside me and offering me support, which makes me wonder how bad I look when both of my brothers are checking on me.
Daire reaches for the jam, spreads it on her toast, and looks up at me. "You look exhausted, Quinn. Late night?"
I glare at her, but she keeps spreading jam on her toast. "You really should try to get more sleep, especially now. You can't afford to look tired with the wedding coming up." She flashes me a sly smile. "Lorenzo will have beautiful women around him all day."
"Daire," Caden says, flatly.
She looks at him with wide, innocent-looking eyes. "What? I'm being helpful."
I push back from the table, reach for my cup, and leave before I say something in front of everyone that I can't take back. The way that I’m feeling it’s going to be something extremely bitchy and hurtful and I don’t want to do that. I know how it’ll end, with everyone ganging up on me.
I shower and try to calm my simmering anger, but it does nothing to quell it. I'm not sure if there’s anything that can help ease it. It’s been building since last night. It’s a culmination of many things that have been built over the years, but last night pushed me to the edge.
I exit my room, wanting to spend some time in the library, hoping a book will help put me in a better mood, when I see Daire heading toward me.
She's got a satisfied gleam in her eyes as she stops, and leans against the wall watching me approach her. I fucking hate that stupid smirk she has on her face and I’d love nothing more than to wipe it off her face, preferably with a punch.
"What did you say to him?" My voice comes out steady and even. I'm so grateful for that, because inside I feel anything but steady. I feel an inferno raging.
"Well, hello to you too."
"What the hell did you say to Lorenzo last night?"
She tilts her head. "I don't know what you?—"
"Don't." I step closer. "I saw you with him. I saw you move away when I came downstairs. I saw his face afterward and I know you said something about Orla." I hold her gaze. I won’t back down, not now, not anymore. "What did you tell him?"
She's quiet for a moment and then she shrugs. Fucking shrugs. "I told him the truth."
I can’t hold back the scoff. "You mean your fucked up version of it."
"Are they different?" She asks with a raised brow.
My jaw tightens. She’s making that inferno raging inside accelerate. "You know they are."
