Broken Kingdom (Royal Hearts Academy #4)(19)

“Hey,” Hayley practically squeaks to her ex.

Oakley beams, dimples and all. “Hey. How you been?”

What the actual fucking fuck?

I’ve done nothing wrong to him, yet he’s treated me worse than the crud on the bottom of his shoes for the last two years.

But Hayley—his freaking ex—says hello to him and he acts like she painted a goddamn rainbow in the sky.

It’s not fair.

He’s the only one I want…and the only one I can’t have.

So help me God, I might just kill the bitch tonight.

I throw my paper plate and my half-eaten burger on the ground.

It’s not even my actual birthday yet and it’s already one of the worst ones I’ve ever had.

I’m so tired of not being good enough for him.

So tired of bleeding my heart out for someone who hates me.

All because of a kiss.

My mom was right.

No drug in the world screws you up more than love does.

“Maybe you two should give Bianca her present,” Sawyer urges my brothers, shooting me a sympathetic look.

I don’t want her sympathy.

I just want my family back.

And for the guy I want to stop treating me like I’m evil incardinate.

Jace and Cole exchange another glance before Jace wipes his hands off with a towel.

He looks nervous.

So does Cole.

Which means their present must be kick-ass and something I actually want.

Hands on my hips, I glare at them. “What is it?”

The suspense is killing me.

Jace blows out a heavy breath. “Well, after some consideration Cole and I decided you—”

“Have our permission to get a tattoo,” Cole finishes with a big grin.

“A small one,” Jace grits through his teeth.

“And nowhere skanky,” Cole adds.

Irritation races over my skin. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

The way their faces twist in bewilderment makes it clear they’re not.

“I’m eighteen,” I remind them, taking several steps forward. “Which means I don’t need anyone’s permission to do what I want to my body.”

Back when I was sixteen Jace, Cole, Dylan, and Sawyer all got matching butterfly tattoos in memory of Liam.

I begged Jace to take me to get one, but he refused.

He said I was too young. Even though he got his first tattoo when he was sixteen.

Christ. I am so sick of them constantly treating me like I’m a baby.

It’s like everyone has blinders on and no one can see or hear me…even though I’m standing in a room screaming my lungs out.

“Liam would have gotten me something amazing,” I whisper. “Something I actually wanted.”

Probably something to do with psychology—my favorite subject.

Because Liam knew me.

He wanted to.

Everyone else is too scared to get inside my fucked-up head, so they don’t bother.

Everyone else is so preoccupied with their own scars…they don’t give a fuck about mine.

Everyone else keeps me at a distance…because they can’t handle me.

Fuck everyone.

The pain etched on their faces tells me my words pierced through them like a silver bullet. Good.

They dealt with their guilt over Liam’s death and got their happily ever after’s in the process.

All while leaving me behind in this hellhole.

Alone.

Hurting.

Incapable of telling my secrets to a single soul.

Because I’ll break what’s left of our fucked-up family.

I love them enough I’d never do that to them.

Too bad they don’t love me enough to see past the fa?ade.

The broken little girl living in the shadows.

All they see is the wicked bitch who will manipulate the hell out of your existence and break you before allowing you to get too close.

On instinct, my eyes flick to Oakley.

Fuck him.

I’m going to make him regret every second of hating me if it’s the last thing I fucking do.

No one says a word, but I can feel Dylan scowling at me. I’m about to walk over and punch that scowl right off her face, but my dad walks outside.

“Sorry for being late.” He chuckles nervously. “It’s awfully quiet for a party. Everything okay?”

The fact that he’s even here right now is mind-boggling.

It’s no secret he spends more time at work than he does with his kids.

So much so I’d listen to Jace before I’d ever listen to him.

“What are you doing here?”

Good thing he was smart enough not to bring his girlfriend Nadia, or it would have been a straight-up shit show in this bitch.

He looks at Jace. “Jace—”

“I invited him,” Jace utters, appearing uneasy.

I want to point out that it’s not really an invite considering it’s his house and all, but there’s something way more important happening here.

No one hates our father more than Jace does, so the fact that he invited him to be part of this is…strange.

My stare snags on my older brother. “Why?”

“Because it’s your birthday.” He averts his gaze. “I wanted everyone who cares about you to be here to celebrate.”