Chapter 15 Neve #2
And I look him in the eye as I tell him the truth.
“Because the reason Jackson got out of his truck and chased me is because he’d just found out I’d fucked with Will.
He wasn’t lying to you.” I don’t look away even as my face burns.
“But it’s worse, actually. I didn’t suck his dick.
” My entire body is hot. “I fucked him.”
Faust doesn’t blink, but his fingers dig into my muscle and his hand slides up, just an inch, and I think it’s unintentional, but it doesn’t stop me from spreading my legs a little as I smile at him, an expression full of bitterness.
“What?” I ask, my mouth so close to his as I lean in toward him. “You think it’s your turn now? Or do you think I lied, about Sylvan? You think I fucked him and now I’m trying to fuck you, too?”
He’s going to leave marks on my thighs as hard as he’s driving the pads of his fingertips into me, and I don’t care.
This is the savage side. The self-destruction. The daddy-didn’t-give-me-enough-attention part of me.
Come on, Faust. Fuck me. It blares inside of my head because it’s not just Sylvan who’s crazy. We’re the same that way.
“But you didn’t love Jackson.” Faust says his name like it disgusts him, but it’s the whole sentence that shocks me.
My throat moves as I swallow, and my voice is hoarse when I answer him. “No,” I tell him, honestly. “I didn’t.”
“Why did Sylvan break Will’s nose?”
I’m surprised he even remembered Will’s name; yeah, I just said it, but it’s a guy he’s never met and knows nothing about. Sylvan must have learned about him from the same stalking that led him to my phone number and my fucking address.
I glance down at Faust’s lips, the scent of peppermint on his breath causing my heart to race. When I look back up, his eyes are on my mouth, too.
The door to the car is still open, but I’m not cold anymore.
I say nothing.
“Did Will touch you?”
I swallow hard.
“Did he hurt you?
Silence.
Faust’s eyes snap to mine. “How.” A demand, not a question.
I inhale deep. “It doesn’t matter, it—”
“It matters to me.”
I stare up at him, and for some reason, I believe him. “He choked me.” The words are a whisper.
Faust’s nose nudges mine, and he doesn’t look away from me. “Then Sylvan did the right thing. Now, give me your number.”
I’m in, door is locked, no one is here, Dad.
I smile as I send the text to Faust, and when I glance down through the window beside Cynthia’s door, I see his red BMW still there, LED lights on.
Butterflies flutter in my low belly despite the fact I am nervous being here alone and I do want him up here, even though I told him I didn’t. He got out of the car just to watch me walk inside the bookstore, and that was more than enough.
I pull away from the window and let the curtains flutter closed as my phone vibrates in my hand.
33
Good girl.
Fuck.
My knees feel weak. For some reason, I didn’t think Faust Darling said things like that. Before I can even think about how to reply, another text pops up.
33
When is Cynthia coming home?
Another stupid smile pulls at my lips. I told him her name and that she would be home later tonight, which is true.
I switch over to our texts and see she actually messaged me she scheduled a ride at one in the morning.
Only an hour from now.
Me
Around one.
His response is immediate.
33
Lock your door.
I roll my eyes but I’m still smiling as I walk backward, then flop down on the couch in the living room, the white sweater on my lap, my coat still on, and my eyes glued to my screen.
But I meant what I told Faust. I cautiously checked the whole place. Before that, I peered down every aisle in the emporium.
No one else is here and nothing was disturbed.
Didn’t stop me from side-eyeing the countertop where Will got his nose broken, though.
But thankfully, I haven’t heard from him again either.
Part of me wonders if he’ll press charges, but I imagine Sylvan will just deny it if he does and expect me to play along.
And as annoyed as I am with Sylvan, lying about fucking me, I think Faust was right. Will did deserve it.
I didn’t need you to tell me that.
33
Don’t go out tonight.
I narrow my eyes, my thumbs flying across my screen as I start to tell him he’s not actually my fucking dad and I’ve survived just fine without one of those, thank you very much. But before I can send all of that, he texts me again.
33
Please, Neve.
My name.
My heart flutters and I bite down on my bottom lip to stop from screaming as I erase everything I typed.
Why are you so worried about me?
I see the three dots pop up to indicate he’s typing, then they vanish.
Then appear again.
Then vanish.
Finally, as I hold my breath, his text comes through.
33
I don’t know but let me be.
When Cynthia gets inside, she hugs me on the couch where I’m watching Lord of the Rings, and I smell the vodka on her breath, but she’s not stumbling around or slurring her words, which I count as a blessing.
She goes off to bed soon after though, saying she’ll catch me up in the morning. I’m half-asleep as is, but once I’ve turned the TV off and gotten out of my nest of blankets, I cautiously, foolishly walk to the window again.
And I see him.
My phone is on DND again, and when I swipe down for my notifications, he’s texted me.
33
That was her?
I chew the inside of my cheek as my heart swells. He watched her let herself in.
Yes. Go home, Faust.
A moment later, I watch the red BMW leave my parking lot.