Twenty-Two

Vespa

The room fell silent like a graveyard after I uttered those words. Hurt passed Ria's eyes and her mouth bunched into a fist.

In my defense, nobody forced her to cry more than the bereaved. She wasn't the one to deal with the disgrace and confusion of having three men pinning after me.

Turning my face to the wall, I felt a little guilty. Ria and I never fought. She always had my back.

Maybe I should have controlled my temper, but she was asking for the silent treatment.

The harsh words my mum used on me rang in my head, making me curse my luck for having a messed-up life. Why would a sane mother wish her daughter was never born?

Ria's warm hand landed on my shoulder causing me to snap out of my thoughts and jerk away.

"Vespa, I'm sorry."

My body stiffened at the sincerity and remorse of her tone.

"I've been an ass these past days and I apologize."

Well, it's about damn time.

I murmured in an unconvincing attempt at being nonchalant. Ria's heart was lighter than a flower. I knew