“You sure about the not killing part?” Phoenix reached for his gun.
“Are you?”
Phoenix gave an eye-roll. “Fine.” He took the stairs slowly.
For in the temple by and by with us, these couples shall be eternally knit. –A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Valentina
“WHERE THE HELL did you get these?” Sergio’s voice was so loud I was surprised my mirror didn’t shatter.
With a huff, I turned around and nearly swallowed my tongue. He cradled the shoes in one hand. In his other hand, he gripped a gun leveled at my head.
“Are you really going to shoot me?” My voice shook. “Over shoes?”
“That depends.” His nostrils flared. “Are you really willing to take the chance… over shoes?”
“Neiman Marcus.” I clenched my fists. “The box you told me to open, so I can only assume they’re either from you or Frank.”
“Not me.” His teeth snapped together. “I would never give you something so precious.”
“I’m not even worth a pair of used shoes!” I yelled. “You’re such a bastard!” He was still pointing the gun at me, but I was done. Done with his attitude, with his ability to string me along and then cut that same string, only to mend it and try all over again.
It was cruel and unfair. I started for the door.
“No!” He dropped the gun to the floor and grabbed me by the arm, wrenching me back. “You don’t get to leave. This conversation isn’t over.”
“It is! I’m done!” I yelled struggling to get out of his rock hard arms. “I hate you!”
“And you think I like myself?” He sneered. “You think I want to be this way? How stupid are you?”
“Really stupid.” I kept struggling. “Because every time I let you in, you destroy everything!”
“Oh, so it’s my fault?”
“I’m sorry about the shoes! Okay?” I stopped struggling and slumped to the ground, basically sitting at his feet. “I’m sorry that I threw them, that I allowed my anger with you to overshadow the fact that I was given a gift and didn’t accept it.”
Sergio’s face fell. “They weren’t from me.”
“I know. Because I don’t deserve shoes.” I looked down at my bare feet. I didn’t even get pedicures.
Never had I felt so young.
Or ugly.
Or just… worthless.
“Heard some commotion so—” Chase knocked on the door and let himself in part way, I could see Phoenix close on his heels, gun drawn.
In one fluid motion, Sergio grabbed the gun off the floor and pointed it at Chase. “Leave.”
Chase’s eyes narrowed as he glanced past the gun to my sitting position on the floor. “Are you okay?” He held his hand out, stopping Phoenix from barreling in the room. As it was, Phoenix looked ready to rip someone’s head off.
“Yeah.” I found my voice. “Maybe he’ll get lucky and accidently shoot me so he doesn’t have to marry me.”
Chase’s face transformed from one of concern to complete rage. His movements were quick, precise as he jumped into the air, and punched Sergio in the face, and then threw him onto the floor. Phoenix watched, fists clenched. “Shoot her, I shoot you, and we both know your face is all you have since you’ve never been guilty of a shining personality.”
Sergio was on his back, but I knew he was better than that, almost like he wanted Chase to kick his ass because he wasn’t able to do it to himself.
“Got it,” Sergio whispered.
Chase released him and eyed me. “He won’t hurt you.”
“I know.”
“Do you? Really?” Chase reached around to his back and pulled a gun from his jeans. I jerked, I couldn’t help it. Guns were dangerous, they were violent. I had been taught to fear them.
He handed the heavy object to me and motioned to Sergio. “If he gets feisty, point at his leg and shoot, can’t really hurt much — and if you hit his dick, you get a prize.”
I laughed through my rage and nervousness. “What kind?”
“A big one, for hitting the smallest target.” Chase held up his hand for a high five. I hit it, he saluted me and left.
I quickly put the gun on the floor, careful to set the pointy part away from my body just in case. Wouldn’t that just be ironic? I shoot myself instead of the bully.
“I deserve it.” Sergio didn’t move, just kept laying on his back, staring up at the ceiling. “You know, if you shoot me in the ribs my lungs will collapse, that would be fun to watch. Or you can hit my heart. It stopped working anyways. Hasn’t since….”
“You’re a dramatic… ass… hole.”
Sergio leaned up on his elbows. “Did you just swear?”
“You bring it out in me.”
“That’s not a compliment.”
“Nope.”
I kicked the gun farther away from me and hugged my knees to my chest. “The shoes came in a box, no return address.”
“No note?” he asked.
I had to lie. I didn’t want him to know about the letters. “No note.” Because letters were different, right? “They came with the dress.”
“They aren’t yours.”