His Reverie (Reverie #1)(63)

I’m over what she did to me. I’ve moved on. I have Reverie and what I feel for her is a thousand times more than what Krista and I ever had. But it still hurts, the loss of David’s friendship.

“David did us both wrong. You know it. He only cares about himself.” She takes a step closer to me, her lips curving into a knowing smile. “I’ll leave right now if you promise to meet me later tonight at my place. Say yes and I’ll walk away from this house and never come back. You won’t have to worry about me telling them anything. But you have to promise me that you’re mine tonight. All. Mine.”

My skin crawls at her words, at the look on her face, at the way she touches me. I don’t want this girl. I can hardly stand having her hands on me. I blow out a harsh breath, hoping Reverie can forgive me for what I’m about to do. “What time?” I ask warily.

The smile turns triumphant. “Midnight. I’ll come by your place at the witching hour. I’ll cast my spell on you and you’ll never want to leave me again. You won’t need to. I’ll keep you perfectly satisfied.” She stands up on tiptoe and brushes her mouth against mine but I don’t hardly move. I’m tempted to spit in her face, but of course that would ruin everything.

“Fine,” I say through gritted teeth, my lips barely moving. I’m disgusted by what I’m doing but I have to protect Reverie. My life is already shit. I don’t need to take her down with me.

“Perfect,” she practically purrs. “Take me home?”

“How did you get out here?” I practically shove her away from me.

“I drove my dad’s car.” She shrugs, not even bothered that I pushed her away.

“Then drive it back. I’ll see you tonight,” I say dismissively.

She pouts. “You promise? Trust me, you don’t show up and there will be hell to pay. I’ll make up lies about your perfect little girlfriend and let her parents know. Tell them we had a threesome together. That you smacked her around some. Whatever I have to say, I’ll say it. I have no shame.”

Fuck. Why did I ever get involved with this girl? When did she turn into such a horrible creature? “I said I’ll be there.”

“Walk me to my dad’s car?” She bats her eyelashes.

“You push me too far, Krista,” I practically growl, which only makes her laugh.

But at least she leaves. I watch her walk away, my gaze narrowing as her retreating back gets smaller. And smaller. Dread makes me nauseous and I shove my hands in my pockets and hang my head, wondering what I can say to Reverie to make this better. To make her still believe in me.

To gain her forgiveness for what I’m about to do.

“I saw everything, you know.”

I turn to find her standing not ten feet away from me, her arms still crossed in front of her chest. “Were you standing there the whole time?” Hell. Then she heard me agree to meet Krista and saw her kiss me.

“No. I was inside the stables. I watched through the window though.” She strides toward me, her face determined, her hair flying out behind her. “I can’t believe you kissed her!” She shoves me in the shoulder with a firm push of her hand and I go stumbling backwards, almost losing my footing.

“It was nothing,” I yell back at her, throwing up my hands in defensive mode. “I swear. It meant absolutely nothing.”

“You two certainly looked cozy. How am I supposed to believe you?” The hurt in her voice is unmistakable. I hate that I’ve done this to her. But I need her on my side, not working against me.

“Maybe you should believe me because you love me and supposedly trust me? But if that’s not the case…” I let my voice trail off as I rub at my shoulder. The girl can pack a punch when she wants to. And my chest aches too. This is all falling apart and I don’t know how to make it right.

“How can I trust you when you let that stupid slut hang all over you?” Reverie shoves me again but at least I was prepared for it this time and didn’t almost fall on my ass. “Why do you let her control you? Who cares if she goes and talks to my parents? If we tell them now then she has nothing to use against us. We can beat her at her own game.”

Either way I lose. I don’t think Reverie realizes that yet. Or if she ever will. She may have secrets but I have more.

“Your parents won’t approve of us, no matter how badly you want to believe they will,” I say.

“I can’t believe you have such little faith in me or my family.” She shakes her head. “But I guess if you’re willing to give up that easily, I shouldn’t be surprised. I’m leaving in a week anyway. So go ahead. Go be with your slut and make stupid little babies who won’t amount to anything. See if I care.”

Low f**king blow. She’s saying that to hurt me, and it works. “Better than being with a judgmental princess who thinks she’s above me,” I toss at her as she starts to walk away.

She whirls around to face me once again, her expression indignant, her body rigid. “I never, ever judged you, Nicholas. I fell in love with you. And now you’re crapping all over it so you can go back to your stupid ex and screw around with her instead, supposedly to protect me? I won’t let you use me too.”

She’s right. I can’t argue with her. There’s no point. “I fell in love with you too, you know,” I admit, my voice so soft I can barely hear it. “Too late now though, huh?”