Page 71 of Please Open Me
Mason leaned into me. Head on my shoulder. Arms wrapping around both of us.
“I’m sorry for being the worst girlfriend ever,” she yawned. “It’s been a lot.”
I rested my chin on her head.
“Stop apologizing. You’re allowed to have a life outside of me.”
“So you won’t be mad if I fall asleep right here?” she whispered, voice fading into a tired laugh.
“Never,” was all I could say.
Because if I kept talking, I’d say something stupid.
LikeI love you.
And that would be the truth.
Chapter 18
Sebastian
What was worse than a cult member who came for dinner?
One that spent the night.
After dinner, Mason had asked both Sophia and Cameron—so sweetly—if her girlfriend could stay over. And of course, neither one said no. Why would they?
That left me angrily staring at the ceiling in mine and Cameron’s room. The only good part? Mason had allowed Cam to keep Rosie in his room. That meant whenever she woke up, I’d have a little buddy to hang out with.
Somewhat fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, and I was just too sleep-deprived to tell, Rosemary Jane Castillo woke up at ten past midnight. And now, at four a.m., she was still wide awake.
So together we lay on the plush area rug in the living room. I played on my Switch, and she sat inches away, playing with a slew of nesting toys and fabric books.
My eyes burned from the screen, but I enjoyed the company, especially because I could talk to her and she wouldn’t tell a soul.
“So, when your mama had you, she got sick, and I was desperate. So I prayed, which is aterriblething to do.”
Religion was for the weak, and it did no good for anyone ever. I paused the game and looked over at Rosie.
She stared at me with wide eyes, an open mouth, and a string of drool on her chin.
“Exactly–you get it.”
Rosie inhaled deeply and clapped her hands.
“And anyway. Now I’m stuck. Because if I leave the cult, the bad man is going to get you or your mama or your papa. And I can’t let the only people who’ve ever loved me get hurt because I’m weak.”
My voice softened a little at the end.
Lucian mocked me for not having friends, but who needed them when I had a baby?
Rosie stared for a minute longer, then reached out for me. I moved my Switch and sat her up on my chest, keeping one hand on her back so she wouldn’t fall. She squealed in delight, and I smiled.
“So, if I just hide it forever, no one has to get hurt. And it’s kind of like a punishment for all the bad things Dada used to do.”
The murder. The stalking. The obsession and objectification of Mason. All of it had piled up, and now this was my cosmic payback.
“I used to be a really bad person”—and maybe I still was—“but you still love me, right?”
