Page 50 of All That Glitters

He shakes his head, his hand cupping the back of mine. “I’m not ready.”

I look into his eyes, not wanting to hurt him but refusing to pretend anymore. “But I am. It’s time for me to go. There’s nothing keeping me here anymore.”

“I’m right fucking here, Legs,” he chokes out.

“You might be here, but you’re a million miles away. God knows I tried to reach you. I’m not angry, Midas. I’m just... sad. And I’m so tired of being sad.”

“So let me help you find a place, somewhere close?—”

I take both his hands and hold them in my lap. “So I can be your booty call? I deserve better than that.”

He looks at me, a frantic edge in his expression making me wary. I swear, for a second, I see an image of me chained to the bed in his eyes.

He’s making this so much harder than it needs to be, so I tell him the one thing that I know will break him. “I’m pregnant.”

The words echo in the room like a bell that can’t be unrung. He’s so still, I’m not sure he’s heard me for a minute before he jumps up and starts pacing.

“No. You’re wrong. Tests are wrong all the time.”

“It’s not wrong.”

“It is. Take another one, Legs.”

“I’m pregnant Midas. Every test I’ve taken says the same thing.”

“Take another fucking test!” he roars at me.

I suck in a painful breath and hold it for a second as he grips his hair.

“No. This can’t be happening.” He turns to me, a mix of sorrow and anger on his face. “How could you?” Before I can react, he pulls back his fist and punches the mirror, shattering it to pieces before storming off.

I hold back my tears and stand, ignoring the shards of broken glass as I pick up my box and walk to the door. I pause in thedoorway and look back, saying a silent goodbye to this chapter of my life before heading down the far stairs and out the back.

I keep my head down as I walk toward the warehouse. I just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Soon, I’ll be out of here, and I can cry in peace.

Only... I’m never that lucky.

“Legs!” Midas’s voice slices through the air, but I don’t stop.

He catches up to me and grabs my arm, spinning me around. I barely manage to hold on to the box, stumbling back at the fury blazing in his eyes.

“You fucking bitch. I never thought you’d sink so low. Of all people, I expected better. Guess Kiki was right—you’re nothing but a patch chaser. At least she admits she’s a whore.”

I turn and keep walking, tears streaming down my face at his words. Rounding the side of the building, I curse when I see a group of people.

So much for sneaking out.

Amity sees me, takes one look at my face, and jogs over just as Midas comes around the corner and starts yelling again.

“Don’t come back, Legs. We’ve got fresh meat. Don’t need to bother with lying bitches like you.”

“Hey,” Nevaeh yells.

“Stay out of this, Nevaeh. This has nothing to do with you.”

“Legs is my friend, and you don’t get to speak to her that way.”

Amity steps in front of me like she’s trying to shield me, but Midas’s words still cut deep, each one a knife to the heart.