Page 104 of Trailer Park Billionaire

I sigh, brush halfway to canvas.

Another knock. Slower this time.

Ben probably forgot his wallet. Or it’s Guy needing help with the TV remote again. Or Robyn dropping off more of my grandpa’s socks, like she did last week. I wipe my hands on my hoodie, walk across the room, unlock the door, and pull it open.

And then the world stops.

It’s him.

The man who left my face bruised last time.

He’s standing there as if the month is already up. It’s not. There are three days left.

He’s smiling. A smile so fake it’s terrifying. A smile that sends shivers down my spine.

I can’t move. Can’t speak. My breath catches somewhere in my chest—just above the knot that’s suddenly back with a vengeance.

“Miss me?” he asks, voice slick as oil.

The sound of it paralyzes me even more.

My fingers tighten around the door frame.

I should scream. I should slam the door. I should run. Or fight.

But I just stand there, staring into the eyes of the man who made me afraid of knocking on wood.

35

BEN

The minute I step out of the apartment, the air feels colder. It’s like losing the warmth of her hands and her voice sends a cold shower down my back.

I take the stairs two at a time, hands shoved into my pockets. Alex opens the door, looking pale and clammy. When I ask if he’ll be alright, he just excuses himself. I close his door and make a mental note to bring him some medicine when I return.

While Alex is running to the bathroom, I’m mentally running through the speech I’m about to give Helena—like I’m prepping for a court hearing. Or for a confession that could completely wreck my shot at happiness with the best thing that’s ever happened to me. The only one who ever made me feel like I belong.

Hey, so I’ve been lying to you this whole time… but for good reasons! Sort of. Also, please still kiss me afterwards?

Yeah, that’ll go well. Now I seriously question how good my reasons really were. They made sense at the time. But now?

I unlock the RV and slide behind the wheel. The keys rattle in my hand for a second before I start the engine.

“I’m going to tell her,” I mutter aloud, just to hear how it sounds. “What’s a little betrayal between lovers?” I shake my head. “Not lovers. Between people who love each other. Because I think… she might love me too.”

Which just makes this betrayal even worse. I should have just told her the truth from the beginning.

The engine agrees with a sputter and a growl. I pull out of the parking lot and head toward the sushi place. I picture her sitting next to me now, arms crossed, that lethal little brow drawing together with every word I say.

You lied to me.

“Yes,” I say to imaginary Helena, gripping the wheel tighter. “I did. But not to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you.”

First you let me think you were a billionaire philanthropist, when you were really just a con artist…

“I did,” I say to the empty seat. “But in my defense, we didn’t know each other back then… and you did seem to like me better after you found out that I wasn’t a billionaire.” I sigh and flick on my turn signal, like it’ll help steer this imaginary conversation in my favor.

And then you lied some more when I found out?