Chapter 81
Flynn
Didn't Anna get it?I owedher, not the other way around. I gave her a good, long look. "Even, huh? You sure about that?"
She winced. "Are you talking about the camera money?"
No. I wasn't."Fuck the money."
"Because if it's such a problem," she said, "I'llpay for it."
Knowing Anna, she would. But that wasn't what I wanted. I wantedher.
She added, "I mean, after we settle up."
Settle up.Those words were just another reminder that I hadn't yet had the chance to end our agreement – to tell her that I wanted out, and why.
I moved closer. "You think I give two shits about the money?"
"Well, you must, since you're acting so crabby about it."
I didn't want to argue. "Isaid, 'forget the money.'"
"That's easy foryouto say."
"Oh yeah? Why?"
"Because you're richer than Midas. So of course, it's easy foryouto forget."
I hadn't always been rich. But Ihadbeen screwed over by a rich guy. Both of us had.
And I'd made him pay, whether Anna realized it or not.
"You're wrong," I told her. "I haven't forgotten a thing. I'm just saying, the world is full of assholes. If you're too nice, you're gonna get hurt."
She gave a bitter laugh. "What do you care? You hate me."
The words hit like a freight train. I stared down at her.Did she really think that? Even now?I heard myself say, "What?"
"Oh, please. Don't bother denying it. You said so yourself." With another shrug, she mumbled, "In so many words, anyway."
Yeah. I'd hated her. But not anymore.Not for a while now.
But the way it sounded, I'd done a sorry job of proving otherwise. I searched her eyes. "That's what you think? That I hate you?"
"Of course that's what I think. I mean, you haven't exactly bothered to hide it."
I shook my head. "You're wrong."
She scoffed, "Sure I am."
Her words cut me to the core. "Anna—"
"Oh, c'mon, Flynn…" She looked around the empty restroom. "Even that whole scene of you busting in to 'rescue' me. We both know it was all for show."
What the hell?"For show? You serious?"
"Of course I’m serious." She lowered her voice. "I mean, it's not like we'rereallytogether."
