Tear You Apart

Read Tear You Apart for Free Online

Book: Read Tear You Apart for Free Online
Authors: Sarah Cross
besides gardening. Just think—that could be you if you play your cards right.”
    “Aren’t you going to stop him?” Viv asked the valet.
    He shrugged. “I don’t get paid enough to get between that guy and his anger issues.”
    “You should go over there,” Regina said to Viv. “You have a calming influence on Henley. Oh wait—no. You make him want to hurt people. Well, that works, too. Go on. Give him something to hit besides that car. I’m sure he’d love to see you right now.”
    Viv backed away before Regina could grab her and drag her into the parking lot. Paranoid? Maybe. But she didn’t want to take any chances. Regina was the perfect example of how drastically someone could change, how quickly they could go from loving you to hating you. Regina had taught her that lesson years ago, long before Viv had known she would need it again.

CHAPTER FIVE
    VIV CREPT INTO THE TOPIARY GARDEN and hid beneath a shrub shaped like a deer, trying to figure out which of her friends would drive out and get her if she called. Jewel was probably at a club—she’d never hear her phone. Layla had work in the morning. Mira didn’t have a driver’s license. Rafe was probably drunk or not wearing any pants. Blue didn’t have a car, but he owed her a favor, sort of …
    She texted him, worried her voice would make it too obvious that she was upset. She didn’t have a confessional relationship with Blue. He was more like the irritating friend whose personality you tolerated, but didn’t really mind. They didn’t have heart-to-heart chats.
    Remember when you woke me up at dawn because you needed me to get Henley to chop down the briar around your hotel? I need a ride to the city. Make it happen. Oh I’m at 7Oaks shitty party don’t ask
.
    He called a minute later. “You’re interrupting my date.”
    “Liar,” she said.
    “Okay, Freddie’s here, too, so it’s not really a date … luckily for you, since I don’t have access to the hotel car these days. Next time you need a ride you should just ask Freddie. His princely honor won’t let him say no.”
    “So you guys’ll pick me up? Is Mira coming, too?”
    “Of course. She’s the only one here who likes you.”
    Viv heard Mira’s “Hi, Viv!” in the background. And Freddie’s “That’s not true!”
    “We’ll be there in, like, half an hour,” Blue said. “Sooner if I can get Freddie to break the law.”
    The sounds of BMW destruction had ceased, but Viv stayed where she was. Was Regina right? Did Henley hate her? She’d done worse things. But everyone had a breaking point and maybe she’d pushed him to his.
    By the time Freddie’s car pulled up, the alarm was quiet. Henley was gone, Regina and the valet had disappeared, and a shocked and delighted crowd had gathered around the wreckage while Danny swore and Viv’s dad tried to do damage control.
    Viv crawled out from under the topiary deer and ran to the car, climbing in before her dad had a chance to notice her.
    Freddie Knight was behind the wheel, frowning into the mirror as he tried to guide an adoring ladybug out of his light brown hair and onto his finger—he had the same animal magnetism gift Viv did. Mira Lively, the newest addition to their group, sat in the passenger seat, her long, wavy blonde hair half-covering the logo of her Curses & Kisses T-shirt. Blue Valentine was stretched out in the back, his blue hairspiked straight up, one knee poking out of his ripped jeans. Viv shoved his feet to get him to move over.
    “Did a giant fall on Mirza’s car?” Blue asked.
    “No. But that’s what I should tell my dad if he asks me what happened.”
    “What
did
happen?” Mira asked.
    “Henley. With a shovel. In the parking lot.” She was surprised at how blasé she sounded.
    “Should we even ask why?” Blue said.
    Viv shrugged. “You can probably guess.”
    She knew it was her fault. She’d wanted to make him angry—well, she had. Mission accomplished.
    “I would’ve liked to

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