Page 147 of Vexatious Queen

R: Lizzy…for the last time, you are incredible, and anyone not able to see that is an idiot and doesn’t deserve you. Besides, if Rory likes you when you feel you’re at your worst, wouldn’t that be better than him only liking you when you think you’re at your best?

L: You wouldn’t understand.

R: Of course, I understand.

L: No! You don’t!

I stared at the text with my heart in my throat.

L: Boo, I’ve tried so hard not to be envious of you, but it is so damn difficult. You’re beautiful, smart, kind, confident, have five guys fawning all over you, and now you come from this super powerful family that basically makes you a queen. Do you even know what it is like to be a mortal person around you? I drunkenly slept with the guy you had a crush on for years, and what did I get? Pregnant. I can’t even pretend to be you properly.

Rylan? Lizzy slept with Rylan. I didn’t even know what to say to that. I didn’t know what to say at all. I didn’t see myself the way she did, and I certainly didn’t care about her sleeping with Rylan. It was the why that bothered me.

R: I’m sorry. I never meant to upset you, Liz. You’re my best friend, and I didn’t even know you felt this way.

L: It’s really hard to look at the best person I know and say I love you and I hate you at the same time.

My heart sank, and tears stung my eyes as my throat clogged with emotion.

R: Do you not want to be my friend anymore?

L: No…ugh. No, it’s not like that. I just…I’m sorry.

R: I didn’t mean to upset you. I thought you’d be excited that he was following you. If you don’t want him to, then just block him, or I can tell him to unfollow you, if you want?

L: Shit…I’m sorry, Boo. No, it’s fine. I know you were just trying to cheer me up, and I’m probably blowing this all out of proportion. It’s what I do right now. Look, I never should’ve kept it hidden who I had sex with and I’m sorry I said that I hate you. I don’t hate you. I just feel so lost some days and it’s hard not to want to be someone else.

She was going through something I couldn’t understand, and I wanted to be supportive, but her words hurt.

L: Please say something.

R: I’m not sure what to say right now. I’m not angry, I just need to sit with this for a bit. It’s a lot to unpack.

L: Boo, please don’t be upset. I’m sorry. You’re my best friend and I wouldn’t know what to do without you.

R: I love you, but I need to go. I’m in the middle of assisting right now, and someone needs my help. We’ll talk later. Bye Liz.

L: Boo…I’m so, so sorry. I’m going to delete the message right now. I feel like such an asshole.

R: Don’t, we’re good. I just need to go. TTYL

L: Love you.

R: U2

Locking my phone, I tossed it in my bag and sat there trying not to cry.

“Hey, are you alright,” Rory asked, and I jumped when I realized he was standing in front of the desk.

I quickly blinked away any evidence of tears and nodded, plastering a smile on my face.

“Yeah, just thinking too hard.”

“You sure? It looked like it was more serious than that.”

His eyes were warm and kind, but I really didn’t feel like sharing. Plus, the entire situation would make him feel awkward, and I didn’t want that. I did sort of manipulate him into following Lizzy in the first place.

“I’m good. Did you finish what you wanted to work on, or…”