Page 150 of Without Fault


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“You okay?”

“Yeah… I just forgot I need to film a video today, so I won’t be able to post it on time.” I put on a smile and my words aren’t completely a lie. I didn’t film my weekly girl talk today because I wanted to watch Liam and my brothers play… I wish I had just stayed home, and today never happened.

“Okay…” She opens the door for me and we step out together. “If you’re worried about your brother finding out about Mr. Chocolate and peanut emoji, just know I’ll make sure to tell Sire to leave you alone, and he’ll tell Lis to fuck off.”

I let out a soft laugh at the reminder of Liam’s contact name. After he told me he was allergic to peanuts I added the emoji to his name, and the other week, it was clear he didn’t like chocolate, so I just made the two of them his contact.

I feel my smile falling but reassure Vidia that I’m okay, and after she hugs me goodbye I head for the elevator. I turn my phone back on to call a ride and the second I do a few messages come in, and then Liam calls me again.

He’s not going to stop calling, and I need to find a ride, so I mute him before calling a car. The entire drive home passes in a blur, and when I step out of the elevator, Liam turns to me. When he sees my face, it's clear he knows I know what happened.

“Dory, I amsosorry.”

I let out a scoff as I scan his bruised face. “You keep saying that, Liam, and every time I think I want to forgive you, you mess up again.”

He shakes his head as he closes the distance between us. “You saw that fight; he hit me first.”

“Do you hear how childish that sounds? He wouldn't hit you for no good reason, Liam.”

He shakes his head in disbelief, this time as he watches me. “You're not even going to place an ounce of blame on them? Can they truly do no wrong to you?”

“I never said that.”

“No, but all you keep saying is howI'mwrong.”

“Because you are!” I step away from him, tears blurring my vision. “This isn't fair, Liam.Youwanted to sleep withme.You'rethe one who wanted the friends-with-benefits thing. You're the one who askedmeto beyourgirlfriend. Why is it thatyouwanted this, andI'mthe one who gets hurt?”

His eyes soften, but his face blurs as my throat tightens again. “The last thing I wanted was to hurt you, Dory.”

“But youdid.It was clearly still on your list, just the last thing.” I move past him, and he quickly wraps an arm around my waist. “Let me go.”

“Sage, I swear I never wanted this.”

I try to push him away, but he doesn't let me.

“Sage,please.” Desperation seeps into his voice. “Tell me how to fix this, and I will.”

“There is no fixing this.” I force myself not to look at him as I try to push him off and reach my door. “We're done. We did the apologies and cute gestures last time, but we're not doing it again. You showed me the kind of person you were twice before, and this is the third time. I've learned my lesson. You're a liar. You can't open up to me, and your anger blinds you from what's right and wrong. I don't want to be with you.”

“No, no, Sage, wait.” He keeps his grip on me, trying to get me to stop and listen, but I'm done listening.

“Get off!”

His hands drop as my voice rings through the empty hall. “Please,” he begs again.

“Leave,” I tell him one last time as I reach my door, but he grabs my hand. When I turn to deny him, he drops to hisknees.

“I amsosorry.” He grabs my hand, and his touch must paralyze me because I can’t pull away from him.

“I should’ve told you I knew your brothers. I should’ve told you we hated each other, and I wasgoing totell you sooner,but I was scared of losing you.”

I shake my head softly as I look down at him… on his knees for me. “You already did.” My voice is just above a whisper, and I try to pull my hand away, but his grip tightens before I notice tears forming in his eyes.

A single tear treks down his face, and a lump forms in my throat at how broken he looks, but he broke me first, so I don’t let myself cry for him, but my vision begins to blur.

“I shouldn’t have done what I did to them.” He shakes his head. “It was wrong. I know that, but if you want me to build a time machine and go back in time to take it back, I will, Sage. I’ll go back and be best fucking friends with them.”

I don't say anything, although I don't think I'd be able to form any words if I tried. Instead, I try to turn to my door, but he grabs me with both hands.