Page 47 of Pretty Little Trigger

CHAPTER 46

Alana

“Fuck him, babe. You deserve so much better,” Tessa says, playing the supportive best friend role like she was born for it.

Spoiler? She was.

We’re both curled up in her bed, limbs tangled under the covers, curtains still drawn tight against the day.

I feel safe here. Like nothing outside these sheets can touch me.

“Whatever,” I mumble.

“He’s gone now.” I try to brush it off, tuck my hurt beneath a shrug, but it falls flat.

Even to my own ears.

I sigh. “When are you moving back in? The sooner, the better.”

It comes out too fast, too raw.

I want her orbiting my space again.

I need it. I need her.

Tessa hesitates. Just enough for my heart to flinch.

“Actually… I wanted to talk to you about that,” she says carefully.

“Oh no. No. Please don’t make my day any worse.” I groan, dragging the duvet over my head.

“I don’t want to hear it.”

She smacks me with a pillow.

Not gently.

“Don’t be dramatic, girl. That’s my role. Hear me out.”

I peek at her from beneath the covers, one eye narrowed.

“I will if you stop hitting me. I’m about to file a domestic violence report.”

“Oh, shh.” She rolls her eyes.

“Kyra and Riley’s lease is up at the end of the month and they found this perfect new three-bedroom spot. Same block as the office.”

I duck back under.

“So you are leaving me.”

“It’s not like that,” she says, tugging the duvet off my face.

“I need to start standing on my own feet. I can’t keep bumming off you and your dad.”

She says it so gently, but it still stings.

“Tessa, you’ve never taken advantage. Not once.”

“I know. And I love you and your dad, for what you’ve done for me. But I can actually afford this new place. And I want to pay rent. I want to feel like less of a burden.”

“You’re not a burden. You’re family.”

“I know.” Her voice softens.

“My heart knows it. But you know how my head fucks with me sometimes.”

I do.

I get that more than anyone.

So instead of trying to talk her out of it, I reach for her hand and squeeze it tight.

“I’m proud of you.”

She snorts, eyes glassy but smiling.

“Oh, shut up, bitch.” Then she smacks me with the pillow again.

“Let’s get ready for brunch.”