Page 114 of Revenge Is a Dish Best Served… Wearing Heels?

"Guys, enough," I interrupted. God forbid a girl have a proper meltdown with this ridiculous crew. "Back to me and my issues right now. Please. Wait, no please. Forget the please. Fuck saying please.Back to me."

"Right, right, of course," Aria agreed, looking chagrined along with everyone else. "I'm so sorry, Astrid. It was a spur of the moment decision, made in a few seconds, me just going with my gut..."

"Same," Annalise said.

"And I—we—never should have done that without consulting you first."

"Damn right," I scolded. "That was so far out of line, I don't even know what to think of you two right now. I'm disgusted that you would even think of doing something like that."

Aria's eyes filled with moisture. "I know.I know. I was just overcome with this feeling of love, of hope, for you, thinking of all that had happened between you two and thought, well, maybe you could have what I have, a loving relationship, partnership, that fulfills you."

A wave of emotions crashed through me, longing, absolute utter longing, because I wanted that too. God, did I want that.

"I just think you can trust him," she continued. "I believe him. I believe he's telling the truth about the past, and there's nothing I want more for you than to be happy. And he makes you happy. Despite everything, he makes you happier than anyone I've ever seen you with before."

Honestly, that wasn't saying much, because who exactly had she seen me with? No one. That's who.

But... the words she'd spoken still resonated with me. Deeply. Maybe I could indeed trust him.

"I think you can trust him too," Annalise shocked me by saying. "He surprised me by coming here, and I have to say, not many people surprise me in a good way like that."

"Right?" Aria nodded. "Even Annalise thinks you can believe him."

Tristan cleared his throat. "And for what it's worth, I think you should listen to your sisters."

I took a moment to look around the circle, seeing that even Ethan and Max seemed to agree, although I wasn't sure they'd speak up if they didn't, not with my sisters ready to do battle at the moment.

"You know what might help?" Tristan asked.

"What?" came five replies.

"The annual St. Lucius Gala is coming up, and I know for a fact that Preston and Sloane will be there. They go every year."

That sounded like fucking torture.

"So you think she should go with you?" Aria asked.

Tristan nodded.

"Ooh, here's your Carrie opportunity," Annalise said.

Aria elbowed her. "Not Carrie. Just talk to them, get confirmation, tackle the past head-on, then, and finally then, she can put this all behind her and move forward." She clapped her hands together. "It's the perfect timing really. Get this negativity out of the way, out of your life once and for all, before you take on pregnancy and motherhood."

It was easy to say, and it made sense and all, but thinking about the reality of doing that, actually walking into that room with a bunch of St. Lucius alumni and talking to those two, made me nauseous. Well, more nauseous than usual these days.

I had a lot to think about, an overwhelming amount really, so much so I was frozen with indecision. "I—I'll think about it," I finally said.

The door creaked open, putting us all on alert. I was so focused on what was happening in this cramped little closet, I forgot there was a whole world out there, including someone who might actually need this room.

Of all people, though, Archie stuck his head in, taking in the odd scene, until his eyes landed on his brother. "Dude, it tookforeverto find you."

"What on earth are you doing here?" Tristan asked.

"I was checking my phone to see where you were, if you were maybe getting food somewhere and I could hit you up, but instead I saw you were in this medical building, and I thought you'd either been kidnapped or you were diagnosed with a brain tumor, because you've been acting so weird lately, and that had to be why."

"I don't have a brain tumor."

"So you've been kidnapped. You're being held against your will."