sick?” My voice pitches, I spit it out so fast. For the first time in the history of ever, I’m suddenly very concerned about Lynette Toberman’s welfare. “We can go to her. I’ll leave with you right now.”
“No.” His brows furrow. Rex glides his hands over my bare arms, and I shiver as he washes me in his warmth. “She did something, a long time ago. She went to prison for it, Scarlett.” His eyes bear into mine, and suddenly, his gaze burns like acid. “My father lost his fortune. He’s trying to rebuild his life. My mother left him.”
“Oh my God.” I back away from his touch. “She’s a con artist, isn’t she? Don’t answer that. I think we both know where your loyalty lies.”
“Not true. They lie with you.”
“Some people will say anything to get what they want—your mother included. Get out.”
Rex steps in with his chest expanding with his next breath, his watery eyes pleading for mercy. “There’s more.”
“Oh, I’ve heard enough. You had months to fill me in on this little tidbit of information!” My voice riots throughout the tiny chamber. “An entire year in which you and your mother chose to pull the wool over my father’s eyes, and he just found out tonight? Crap, Rex! You’re like a bunch of scam artists. Get the hell out, and don’t come back!” I make a dash for the bathroom and lock myself inside.
The rumble of his voice vibrates through the walls then the sound of the door closing with a pronounced click. I slide down to the floor and crumple into tears.
I thought Rex and I had it all.
The only thing we truly had was one big ball of lies.
My father doesn’t feel much like speaking to Lynette just yet either. He’s declared a moratorium on the relationship, affording them both a time-out. His words not mine. We steal away for a few days and head up to the Happy Squirrel along with Sabrina and Lawson. It’s a time-out all of our own. My father and Lawson barbeque while Sabrina and I immerse ourselves in one Netflix marathon after the other. None of us talk much about the incident, at least not after the initial verbal vomit where each of us spilled what little we knew. I suspect my father knows a touch more, but isn’t into throwing Lynette fully under the bus just yet. This entire nightmare has to be a blow to his ego.
Rex has texted and called at least fifty times. He’s diligent—I’ll give him that. He wants to talk. He misses me. He needs to hear my voice. All things are true on my end in reverse, but in reality, I don’t have the stomach to dig deeper into the Toberman web of deception. And to think he was going to help me reinstate our parents as a couple once again. What a joke. I had probably fallen into his trap all along. I bet he and his mother were laughing at me the whole time—at my entire family. All it took was a little digging from Sabrina to bring to light all the darkness the Tobermans tried so hard to disguise. Worse yet, they weren’t disguised so well. A simple Internet search or two could have diverted this entire nightmare about a year ago. Lesson learned. Google the hell out of anyone you even think you know—especially if turning in your V-card is involved—or your father’s impending future and fragile heart.
A foolish part of me believed what Rex and I had was real. The way his body moved over mine, in mine, he put on quite the convincing act. I close my eyes and relive that moment. How could I have mistaken any of that for magic? For true love? If the Tobermans aren’t laughing at us all, they should be.
On Sunday, as we pack up to leave, Sabrina comes over and offers up a firm embrace.
“What’s this for?” I’m still a little skeptical of any show of kindness my sister might throw my way. Chalk it up to a decade’s worth of bruised hearts, one stolen boyfriend, and one stolen kiss.
“For putting up with me all these years.” She pulls back with tears glistening in her vibrant eyes. I’ve always thought Sabrina’s deep aquamarine-colored irises were far more elegant than my algae-riddled lenses, and now that they’re illuminated with tears, they glow a peculiar shade of neon. “I’m not with Duncan anymore.”
“Really?” My heart thuds to a stop as if