White is for Virgins (33 page)

“But it was their choice! If I had known, I would’ve stayed away from you and Nick and your stupid
master
plan,” she said, raising her voice, “Because it basically cost me my only friend.”

“You can talk it out with her,” he said calmly. “You can work it all out.”

She started crying again, and Fox closed the space between them and held her small frame. She reluctantly returned the hug, he barely felt her there.

“I feel so stupid,” she murmured into his dark green dress shirt.

“Don’t,” he said, resting his chin on her soft head.

She pulled away, a small smile tugging on the corners of her lips. “Don’t tell me what to do.”

He smirked. Her smile faded just as quickly as it came.

“I still think what you did was wrong,” she admitted.

“I guess I’ll just have to live with that,” he replied.

Chapter 22

I twirled Holly around in circles, sending her into giggling fits and threatening her balance on those wobbly legs. Her small hand gripped my index finger tightly as I continued to spin her around.

“She’s gonna throw up,” an unmistakable, velvety voice warned behind me, “All over you.”

“Your brother loves ruining your fun, kid,” I muttered with a slight grin to Holly. She looked heartbroken as I cut our little dance short and scooped her up.

“I swear, you’re corrupting my favorite sister,” Fox huffed sarcastically, taking Holly from me. He was so incredibly gorgeous when he was pretending to be serious…

Disregarding the thoughts that were roaming through my mind, I pressed my lips into a straight line, waving at Holly.

Fox waved along with her, and then they left the daycare. I was free to go myself, but I was too interested in watching Fox and Holly. Excluding the growing smile on my face, I didn’t move a muscle as he lifted Holly in the air and spun around. She was laughing, and he was smiling, and I felt a pang of jealously for a moment.

He was a good brother, and she was the most loving little sister… Even though their parents were high in status, they still had each other. Nina was starting her own family. Meanwhile my parents’ supposed love “‘til death do they part” was crumbling.

I was alone. And it sucked.

I sighed as I shoved my mocha-colored, oversized pullover over my head, ruining my ponytail in the process. As I pulled the hair tie from my hair and ruffled it up, I signed out of the daycare.

The autumn wind was strong and frigid against my skin. With numb fingers I tucked my hair into my hood. But that was a pointless move, because as soon as I shoved my hands into my pockets the hood was knocked off my head. I sighed and stared up at the sky in defeat.

“Need a ride, Miss?” a husky voice said from behind the wheel of a dark Lamborghini.

I stared at my feet for a moment as I considered his offer. Against my better judgment I took his proposal. Only after I’d buckled my seatbelt and he’d set off in the opposite direction of my house did I realize I should’ve just walked home.

Lily’s house came into view, and I stared straight ahead with a clenched jaw.

Fox stopped the car, and turned to look at me.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked with anger building.

“Because watching you guys try to ignore each other for a whole week has been extremely painful,” he muttered. I glared at him coldly.

“You really can’t mind your own business, can you?” I asked him.

He smirked and shook his head genuinely. I ran a hand through my hair and willed myself to look out the window.

“
Lemme see if I understand – I’m just gonna bust into her house, apologize because
she
decided to keep things from
me
, and then we hug and it’ll all be alright? Is that how it’s gonna play out?” I asked in a bitchy tone.

“That sounds about right, smartass,” he nodded, following my sarcastic tone.

I scowled, staring into his emerald eyes as I tried to decode him. Fox was... complicated. Indescribable. Annoying beyond compare. Yet… he was also intuitive. To him, there always seemed to be an answer. He got in your business and told you how to fix your problems.

I loathed him for that. Or at least, I wanted to.

“I’ll be at Nick’s house,” he said softly. I almost cringed.
Nick
. “I’ve got unfinished business with him, too.”

I nodded, reaching for the door handle.
I can’t believe I’m actually doing what he’s telling me to do.
“When you’re done, just come get me. I’ll take you home.”

Biting my lip, I waved at Holly behind the window. She smiled, giving me a small spark of hope as I turned and went for the front door. I held my breath as I rang the doorbell. There was no turning back.

***

“I wanted to apologize,” I started, feeling constricted as I tried to break the ice between us.

“You don’t have anything to apologize for,” she said in a weak voice, daring to look me in the eyes. She looked helpless.

“No, I do. I shouldn’t have been a bitch at lunch. I could’ve just asked you about all of this in private.”

“I should’ve been upfront with you from the beginning,” she said remorsefully.

“You should’ve,” I said before I could stop myself.

She winced, “I wanted to Emery, I really did. But I was so
ashamed
. I didn’t want you to judge me for my past and my mistakes. That’s what everyone else did; they dropped me. I was so sick of them talking about me; I began to get sick of myself. You didn’t see me as the drunk, heart-breaking bitch. You were the only one that didn’t know my past, and I took advantage of that.”

She started crying, and my eyes watered. And that’s when I took two steps forward and hugged her tight. She hugged back, and I felt warmth. Right then – I was grateful that Fox had driven me here. I hadn’t tried to understand Lily, and that wasn’t fair.

“Lily, it’s ok,” I whispered as we pulled apart.

“It’s not ok,” she shook her head; “It hurt so much… seeing him with you. I started to hate you Emery, and I didn’t want to.  I set myself up for that, though. Fox was trying to make Nick jealous, and I was stupid enough to go along with it. But Nick wasn’t the only person I hoped it would affect.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, trying to evaluate that last sentence.

Lily bit her lip, deciding if she wanted to make her next confession.

“Lily, no more holding back,” I said sternly, “If we’re going to be friends, we need to be honest and straight up with each other.”

She nodded vigorously. “Don’t hate me,” she began.

“Oh my God…” I said worriedly, “What is it?”

“I went out with Fox to see…” she said cautiously, “How
you’d
take it.”

I glared at her, and she smiled sheepishly. “You
what
?” I questioned, hearing her words but failing to believe them.

“I wanted you to admit you were jealous,” she reiterated, letting it all out, “because I know for a fact that you have feelings for him. And you are too damn stubborn to admit it.”

“I didn’t – I don’t – You aren’t –” I sighed, pausing to collect my statement of denial.

“Exactly,” she smiled, “
Blah
. I know.”

“Hey, I haven’t admitted anything,” I shrugged teasingly, “So stop smiling.”

Her grin only grew. “You don’t need to admit to anything, it’s clearly written on your face,” she chuckled.

“Lily,” I said impatiently, “I am not interested in Fox.”

“You don’t see the way you look at him,” she said.

I paused, running a hand through my hair. This wasn’t supposed to be about my nonexistent feelings towards Fox.

“Lily,” I paused, “Have you talked to Nick about any of this?”

Her smile faded instantly, and she blinked; caught off guard. A simple, quiet “no” escaped her lips.

“Why not?” I asked, even though I knew it was hard for her. She needed to face this; she needed someone to talk to.

“It’s… I can’t Emery,” she whispered, close to tears again, “He hates me. I hurt him so much, and we both gave up a long time ago.”

“If you guys gave up, then why’d you agree to go out with Fox?” I challenged.

She glared at me, heated because she couldn’t come up with an excuse.

“You know he came here? Looking for you?” I told her. She looked up, and I held her attention. “Yeah, the night you left with Fox, he came here. I told him he was too late, and now that I think back… he was crushed.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but she closed it once a tear slid down her cheek.

“I regret this whole thing with Fox,” she admitted softly, nibbling on her lip.

“I regret getting involved too,” I said, hugging her again.

“This is so messed up,” she laughed nervously.

“Life’s messed up,” I shrugged as we stepped back.

“That was deep Em,” she smirked, shoving me.

“I know.”

“I missed you.”

“I missed you too,” I said solemnly.

And with that, we hugged goodbye and I walked down the drive.

I considered walking to get Fox. It was cold, but then again… I’d most likely have to see Nick. And unless I absolutely
had
to come in contact with him, I considered myself weak and preferred to avoid him.