Page 146 of Pretty Thing

“I love you too, Felix. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, just know that I will never abandon you. That kind of devotion can scare other people, but I don’t care as long as you aren’t scared.”

I smile against his lips.

“No. No, I’m not,” I say, and take a deep breath. “Do you want help downstairs? I need something to keep busy right now.”

He nods and kisses my forehead.

“Of course, anything you want.”

forty-one

​. . .​

Felix

This guy really has everyone fooled into thinking he is some paragon of virtue. It makes me sick. A part of me really wants to leak the video of what he really does in his private time—sorry, did. But I can’t humiliate Eden.

Up on the screen, Kyle is at his high school graduation. Stupid smile on his stupid face. I fucking hated my graduation.

I pick at my small plate of food that the church is serving for the occasion. I guess you get special treatment here when you donate large sums of money every year. Mum got a “May the spirits be with you,” and we were ushered out the door.

How long do we have to be here? What is the appropriate length of time to spend at a funeral for a fucking piece of shit?

My eyes search for Eden, looking for a glimpse of her dark hair and the cute black dress I picked for the funeral. I smile when I find her standing near the stained glass window talking to a woman I don’t recognize. The bright sun shines through the multi-colored glass and bathes her in an angelic hue.

“I don’t know how you did it, but you have her completely convinced that you’re this sweet and loving guy.”

I roll my eyes, then turn to face Kris with a despondent look on my face.

“That’s because I am a sweet and loving guy. What makes you say otherwise?”

Kris narrows her eyes as she crosses her arms. Her eyes are red from crying, but hard as ever when she glares at me.

“It’s just the two of us. You can drop the act. I know you hated my brother,” she says, and I shake my head.

“Look, I wasn’t his biggest fan, but I didn’t hate Kyle,” I say honestly.

She snorts. “Such a good liar.”

“I’m not sure what I’ve done to upset you, Kris, but I assure you that I love Eden and have no intentions of hurting her.” I cross my arms and mimic her pose. “But that does lead me to the question of why you’re so upset that your friend is happy? Maybe it’s you she needs to look out for.”

She takes a small step forward, anger burning in her eyes.

“I know it was you.”

“What was me?”

“You killed my brother.”

I chuckle. “Is that so? What proof do you have? Because that is quite the leap even for you, Kris.”

“I don’t have any…yet, but you also didn’t deny it,” she growls under her breath.

“That’s because I don’t need to defend myself to you or anyone else,” I drawl.

“How have you fooled everyone but me? I see through you. And I will find proof that you were involved with Kyle’s death, and when I do…you’ll be locked up with that degenerate father of yours.”