Bitter Kisses (It's Just High School #3) - Thandiwe Mpofu Page 0,14
her side? Is that it?” Liam demands angrily, getting into Dad’s face. “For all we know she’s the one who set this entire thing up! She’s had it out for Mia since day fucking uno.”
“What? You think your mother would set an elaborately criminal plan like this where an innocent girl is not just taken but…” Dad trails off, looking at me.
“If you’re going to defend her, then fuck off,” I say keeping my voice low then turn to go, painfully aware that I’ve just wasted a shit load of time.
Time I could’ve used to get to Mia.
I need to get to her.
God, she’s never going to forgive me. Not after everything.
“I’m not defending anyone, I’m saying we need to pull the facts together,” he says, then drops his voice. “Before things are done that cannot be undone.”
“Well, Julian’s going to kill that asshole and by God, Dad, I’m helping.”
“Shut your mouth! We’re in public for Christ’s sake!” Dad seethes at Liam, then he looks at me. “Listen to all the facts first and then you can do what’s best. If your mother is involved, then she might be in it for other reasons.”
Yeah, to break Mia and I apart, fuck! How could I be so fucking stupid and arrogant?
“At least consider it,” Dad says in a rush. He’s the voice of reason, that much is clear, but where’s the reason in taking a girl who’s barely coming out of the throes of depression, grief and quite recently, the heartbreak I caused her?
“Get out of my way or I’ll remove you,” I say just as smoothly.
“Think, Julian. How exactly did Courtney get to Mia? How did Mia end up going to her? At least let’s figure that out.”
I stare at my father, hating him but also fucking aware of where he’s going with this.
“The Matthews scum are in no way related to your fucking brother.”
“Brother?” Liam says, confused. “You mean Nathan had something to do with this?”
Dad doesn’t look away from me. “He’s the one who set this whole thing up, isn’t he?”
“Wait, the day you and Mia flew back from your mini-honeymoon of disaster, Mia said the exact same thing!” Liam states. “She said it but…”
We didn’t fucking listen, like the fucking assholes she accused us of being.
“Yes, but why the fuck would he be behind her being taken now?” Cole mutters. “Nathan is her father.”
“Yeah, like a fucking parent can’t be a fucking monster, huh?” I seethe. Silence falls over us.
“Well, either way it’s a good place to start.”
“You think Nathan and Courtney are working together?” Liam questions.
“Well, your mother has a reason to—”
“Oh for fuck’s sake, why? I don’t fucking care about your plans to marry me off to one of the fucking Bishop girls or both of them or whatever else you and that woman planned!” I roar.
“What?” Liam steps closer, confused, his eyes narrowed. It’s only then that I realize what I just fucking said. “What did you just say about the Bishops?”
Ah fuck! Cole glances at me. Dad looks at his fucking shoes and I just… I don’t have time to fucking hold Liam’s hand.
“Julian…” I can hear the edge of rage to his voice, coupled with the hopelessness of this nightmare.
“Not now, Liam.”
“Don’t give me that.”
“Yeah, like you don’t already know,” I snap, seeing the gears switch in his eyes. He’s already working it out. Liam is not stupid. I know he’ll hate me for keeping this from him, but I can’t be bothered to care. Not right now.
He opens his mouth to say something but just then, a swarm of reporters and cameras head for us.
“Fucking hell.”
“Hey, hey, stay back!” Liam demands. I see Dad shove his way through and security right behind him. Where were those assholes to begin with?
“We need to get out of here,” Cole mutters close to my ear.
“No shit.”
I don’t really care who I knock down or who I hurt as I barrel through the crowd of these assholes, remembering a similar scene just like this from years ago. The day I met Mia and she broke my trust for all time—so I thought.
“Where to now?” Cole asks, his voice hard and low for my ears only. I don’t answer but it’s obvious.
Mia…
“We need to make sure first before we do anything.”
“What we need is a fucking game plan,” Liam says, still glaring at me. There’s a violent fight between my brother and me in our future, provided I survive the night.