Chapter 53

“But I love you!”

“That’s your problem. You waited too long to tell me.” He shrugged. “I’ve found someone who isn’t afraid to say the words, someone I really love, who’s worthy of that love.”

“But you said you loved me!”

“And you believed me? You’re a pathetic whore. You wanted to be loved so badly you were willing to believe whatever I told you.”

“But…”

“Face it, Bascopolis. You’re not worth loving. You were always a whore, and you’ll always be one. I’m leaving you.”

“I’m leaving you.” Those words followed me up through the layers of sleep, and I’d wake, shaking and nauseous, my face wet with tears.

* * * *

The phone rang, and I scrambled to answer it. “Wills?”

“No. It’s Vincent.”

I sighed. “Oh. Vince. Hi. You’re home.”

“No shit. I got your message. What’s up?”

“It’s…I know Wills is on a job, but…”

“Jesus, Bascopolis, is that all those hang-ups were about?”

“Well, I…”