Page 80 of Cruel King
A second later, he throws open the door and stands there staring at me like I’m some stranger and not the woman he said he loved. “I don’t want to hear anything you have to say right now, Ava. Just leave me alone.”
“I can explain. Please, Theo.”
His dark eyes stare at me like he’s seeing into my soul. “I gave you every chance. I asked you so many times why he was acting like he was, and every time you said you didn’t know. But you did.”
Before I can say another word, he slams the door in my face. My tears roll down over my cheeks as my heart breaks in two.
My best friend, the one person I’ve cared about my entire life, won’t even talk to me. I doubt he’ll ever forgive me, and I have no one to blame but myself. For as awful as Matthias was in telling Theo what happened between us, I’m the one who could have made sure none of this ever happened and he never got hurt like he just did.
Crushed, I walk back downstairs and leave the King house. For the first time since that snowy December day, I don’t feel like I’m welcome here.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
Matthias
As I tryto take my mind off all that’s happened today by watching some TV, Marius walks into the game room and stands in front of me so I can’t see a damn thing. Does no one in this house have any respect for anyone else?
Pushing him aside, I grumble, “What the fuck? Can’t you see I’m doing something here?”
He glares down at me like I’ve done something to offend him, but I have no idea what his problem could be. “I’m trying to figure out what you’re doing, Matthias, because I don’t get it. Why did you do that to Theo and Ava?”
I look up at him for a moment before turning my focus back to the TV. “Mind your own business.”
“You know what I think? I think you care about her.”
I’m clearly not going to get to watch this show, so I turn to look at him, hoping this conversation can be over soon. One look at his face tells me he’s serious.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t I? You’re in love with her.”
That gets him a well-deserved eye roll. “That’s insane. I hate her.”
“No, you don’t. It was killing you that Theo was with her because you’re crazy about her. From what I heard, you’ve loved her for years.”
I say nothing to that. I’m tired of denying how I feel. I’ve pretended to hate her for far too long. I can’t do it anymore. Whatever people want to think, let them.
Yes, I love Ava Sutton. I have for so long I can’t remember not being in love with her. And yes, I’m a son of a bitch because I pretend to hate her.
When I don’t respond, Marius says, “You know, you don’t have to do things like that. You don’t have to push people away all the time.”
Great. Now this brother has decided to get on my last fucking nerve. I swear to God this is why I’ve sometimes wondered what it would have been like if my parents stopped at me and made me an only child.
“Nice of you to try your hand at counseling, Marius. Stick to photography.”
But still he continues.
“I wonder if you even know you’re doing it, to be honest. Ever since Mom died, you’ve been a miserable fuck. I get it. I miss her too. But you don’t have to work so hard to be unhappy, Matthias.”
I don’t want to listen to any more of this, so I stand up and walk out. Everyone in this damn house thinks they know what’s right and it pisses me off.
Since I can’t seem to escape my family today, I figure I’ll have to hole up in my room. All the better. It will mean I have less grief, at least for one day.
On my way there, Theo walks out of his bedroom. He’s holding his suitcase, which means he’s going.
When he sees me, he thrusts an envelope into my hand and without looking me in the eye, says, “Give this to her. I’m leaving.”
“She says you were supposed to give me the message that she had to leave that day after the blizzard. Why didn’t you?”