Page 141 of The Illicit Play

I shake my head. There’s no point trying to lie when I obviously look like shit.

I’m wrecked, and I doubt even layers of makeup could hide that fact.

Satch shuffles into the room, fidgeting with her fingers before shaking out her hands and straightening her cardigan.

Glancing at the ribbed fabric, I watch the way it sits on her wide curves. When I first met her, I thought she was a bit of a weirdo. She dresses like a woman from the 1950s, but she’s so sweet and shy and I just couldn’t judge her for it. I mean, no one should judge her. She’s all things kind, and I’m the asshole for thinking my sense of fashion was better than hers.

I’m not better.

Nothing about me is better.

No matter what I wear or how well I do in school, nothing about me is better than Elizabeth Satchwell, because she’s the genuine article. And my brother deserves someone just like that.

Sucking in a breath, I clench my jaw to try and ward off the next batch of tears.

“Wily, um…” She licks her lips, and I tense at the sound of my brother’s name.

“Wily never wants to speak to you again. Can you move out, please?”

“Wily wants me to tell you that he’s disowning you.”

“Wily needs you to know that you’ve let him down, and he’s not sure he’ll ever get over it.”

“He’s pretty cut up.” She bites her bottom lip. “But he’d really love to talk to you.”

“What?” My head jolts up. “No, he wouldn’t.”

“Yeah.” Satch nods, obviously surprised by my reaction. “He would have come here himself, but I wouldn’t let him. He needs to rest up his knee after climbing thosestairs.” Her eyebrows dip. “He shouldn’t have done that. The doctor and PT said he’s got another week before he can move up to his room.”

I swallow, guilt slamming me when I realize he broke the rules because I was acting sketchy. Shit. I made him hurt his knee too!

“So, would you be willing to come to his room?” She points over her shoulder.

“And tell him what?”

She shrugs. “The truth. He just needs you to tell him what’s been going on. He’s really worried about you.”

“I hurt him,” I whisper.

Satch bites her lip and slowly nods. “This might help heal things.”

I scoff, shaking my head. “I doubt it.” My expression crumples, tears taking me out before I can stop them. “He’s gonna hate me even more when he finds out what I’ve done.”

“Oh. Um…” Satch bounces on her toes before moving to my bed. Taking a seat beside me, she wraps her arm around my shoulders and pulls me close. “It can’t be all that bad.”

“It is,” I wail.

She rubs my back, cradling me against her until the worst of my sobs have passed.

Wiping tears off my cheeks with her thumbs, she moves her head until I have no choice but to look into her kind eyes. Her smile is gentle and sweet.

“Wily could never hate you. He loves you so much. You’re his baby sister. His best friend. He’s hurt because you didn’t tell him a really important thing thathappened in your life. And he’s hurt because you went behind his back with Grady. If you don’t tell him… whatever else it is you’ve been hiding, it’ll only make things worse.” Her pale eyebrows form a wonky line over her eyes. “Please, Blake. He needs you. He’ll be destroyed if he loses his relationship with you. You’re his little butt face.”

I let out a shaky, watery laugh, fresh tears lining my lashes as I sniff and try to find the courage to go with her.

Just go! Get it over with!

Satch gets off the bed, awkwardly standing and straightening her clothes before holding out her hand. I reluctantly take it and let her drag me down to Wily’s room.