Page 39 of The Devastation You Reap

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"Where have you been?" Peyton asks the second I get to the top floor of the house.

"Out, obviously."

She rolls her eyes at me but doesn't get to respond because the door opens and Luca appears.

"Ah, you remember where you live."

"Fuck off."

"Come on, baby," he whispers to Peyton, nuzzling her neck.

The move sends a wave of jealousy through me. What I said to Macie earlier was true. I want what Luca and Peyton, and Letty and Kane have. Although I'm aware that I'll probably never have it. If I let anyone too close, they'll run a mile, and if by some miracle they don't, then I have no doubt that I'll fuck it up one way or another. Self-sabotage is my specialty, so the second things are looking like they might just go well, I'll do something stupid and ruin it all in the process.

"Just give me a minute," she says, dropping a kiss on his cheek and pressing a hand to his chest to make him go back inside.

"I don't need the speech, Peyton," I say, predicting the words that are about to fall from her lips.

"Who's the girl?"

My brows draw together.

"The girl you went out with tonight."

"H-how do you… No one."

"That's bullshit and you know it. She's the reason you were asking me about my picnic date with Luca on the weekend, wasn't she?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," I lie.

"Leon," she breathes, sounding exasperated. "Letty knows too."

"Fucking Micah," I mumble.

"You can't blame him, he was pissed. He wanted to ask her out."

"He's a little bitch. She can do better."

Peyton rears back in shock.

"Oh? I thought she was no one."

"She is. Fuck. I…"

"Talk to me, Lee."

"She is no one. A redhead I want to roll around in the sack with."

I take a step back toward my room—my escape.

"You're lying."

"And? Stay out of my business, Peyton."

"We will find out what you're hiding, Lee."

"Whatever." I slip into my room and lock my door behind me.