Page 141

“I’m good.” I cut my gaze to Peter. “And you?”
“I was only looking out for you, Tris.” His hand beat a familiar rhythm on the table that sounded a lot like one of the band’s earlier songs.
I raised an eyebrow. “Seriously? That’s where you’re going with this?” Somehow, the two most important men in my life had gotten it into their head that I couldn’t function without them.
Well, fuck that. And fuck both of them, too.
I scoffed. “So I’m supposed to ignore that you acted like a child, put our careers in jeopardy, and have ultimately treated me like I’m a fucking moron?”
He ran a hand along the back of his neck. “Tris, that’s not?—”
“You accused Killian of being with me to spite you. So I guess that means I’m too stupid to recognize that?”
“Tris, you’re being ridiculous. That’s not what I meant.”
I drew in a deep breath, and if shape-shifting dragons had been real, and I was one of them, I’d have exhaled fire.
He hadnotjust gone there. I slammed my palm on the table.
Peter flinched.
Good.
“Now Tris just—” Peter started.
Wendy shook her head, clearly trying to warn him, but Peter didn’t notice or care. The moment she realized it was a losing battle she backed off, settled in her chair, and let me handle this.
I stood, absolutely pissed at him.
He was nothing if not predictable.
“Do. Not. Tell. Me. To. Calm. Down.” I didn’t have to yell, my tone expressed my anger quite thoroughly.
Peter’s eyes widened. “I wasn’t.”
Fucking liar.
And Peter, who still hadn’t learned to shut his damn mouth, decided to open it again. “Killian isn’t good enough for you, Tris. You’re better off without him. If you just listened to me?—”
“Shut up, Peter,” I snapped.
He frowned, a confused expression marring his classically beautiful face. If I’d been able to look at this moment impartially, I might have found some humor in that.
“You don’t own me, Peter Young. You do not get to tell me what to do with my life. We have been friends for a really long time, and I’m tired of you treating me like you get to dictate whatI can and cannot do. And who I can talk to. It’s like you believe my sole purpose in life is to do your bidding.”
“Tris. Fuck, I never meant for you to feel that way. We’re friends. Family. I’ve always been here for you and looked out for you.”
“Have you, though? Did youknowI’d been in love with you since we were kids? That for years, I waited for you to see me, Peter. To see how good we could’ve been together. Hoping you’d love me back.” God, it felt good to say these words out loud. To confront him and demand answers. I thought I would’ve been sad, but all I felt was relief at finally knowing the truth.
Peter sucked in a sharp breath that whistled through his teeth. For the first time, actual regret flashed in his eyes. He dropped into the closest chair and rubbed at the scruff of his neck. “Yeah,” he answered, his voice low.
Hearing him confirm my thoughts hit me hard. The sour taste of bile crept up my throat. “And you let me go on believing I had a chance. That someday you just might feel the same? What the fuck is wrong with you?”
His eyes pleaded with me to understand. “I didn’t want to lose you, Tris. Icouldn’tlose you.”
“So you thought you’d string me along?” The words sounded hoarse, painful as I forced them out.
He flinched. “I’m fucking this all up. I never meant to do that. I’ve always loved you, Tris, just not in that way, and I didn’t know how to tell you. I was scared.” I was certain he was being sincere, but it was too little too late. “I know it’s not a good enough reason. I’m so sorry.”