Page 93 of The Destruction You Desire

"I know you're trying to protect me, Peyton. And trust me, I get it. I understand your reasons for wanting to treat me like glass right now. But you need to stop hiding things from me. Wrapping me in cotton and keeping out the ugly outside world isn't going to help me heal. It's just smothering me. I need the truth, Peyton. I need to know why we're really in Maddison. And don't give the bullshit excuse that it's because it's where you go to college. I know you went to Trinity Royal."

I gasp at her confession.

"I want to know why Aunt Fee is playing Mom and where our real one is. I want to hear you say my boy's name without wincing because you're worried it might set me off. And," she adds with a hard look. "I want to know exactly what is going on there."

"Not asking too much then," I mutter, trying to lighten the mood a little. But when she doesn't so much as smile, I nod. Accepting that it's time to stop beating around the bush and tell the truth.

Telling Libby about Mom's accident is hands down the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.

I thought experiencing it was bad, but at least I was there.

Watching Libby's eyes darken with disbelief and then grief a few minutes later when she realizes that I'm serious is utterly heartbreaking.

I know she thought she wanted the truth, that she could handle it, but right now as tears stream down her face, dripping to the sheets wrapped around her, I'm not so sure it was the best idea.

"K-Kayden?" she forces out.

"He's okay. He was hurt. He's still healing, but he's going to be fine, Lib."

"Fuck," she barks, her hands balling into fists. "Fuck," she screams, pain pouring from her as she pounds her fists down on the bed, the machine beside her beginning to beep incessantly.

"Lib, you need to calm down," I say, placing my hand on her shoulder in the hope it'll help soothe her. But instead, she shrugs me off and continues taking her frustration out on the mattress.

Five seconds later, two nurses come running in.

"It's okay, Libby. We need you to calm down, sweetie."

"She's gone," Libby wails, shattering my heart all over again. "She died thinking I was a total waste of space druggie."

"No, Lib. She didn't. Mom loved you more than anything."

"It's not fair. Why her? Why not one of the cunts who hurt people, who ruin lives?"

"I know, Lib. It's not fair."

Thankfully, with the help of the nurses, we manage to get her to calm down after a few minutes and the beeping returns to normal levels.

"If you need anything, just call, okay?" one of the nurses says before she slips from the room.

"Tell me the rest," Libby demands.

"Are you sure that—"

She stares at me. "It can't get any worse, right?"

"I guess not."

I tell her about Aunt Fee taking us in. The incredible job she's doing with Kayden and his recovery before I have no choice but to confess about The Locker Room and how I ended up reconnecting with Luca.

"Firstly,” she states, sounding much more like my big sister than she has since she woke up. "Luca is right, you are done at that place. Mom would be mortified if she knew what you were doing with your body." She pins me with a look that makes me feel about an inch tall.

"I didn't have a choice, Lib. We had no insurance. I had to make money and fast."

"This is all my fault."

"No, Liberty." She instantly looks up at my use of her full name. "It'shis," I hiss.

"I need you to know that… the only thing I really, really regret in all of this is how what I did tore the two of you apart."