God of Pain novel · Chapter 5 of 24

Chapter 5: Same as Always

Nellie Quill lived over her family's bakery on Salem Street, and she opened the door in flour-dusted pajamas holding a rolling pin.

"I have been watching the video for six hours," she said. "You are officially the most famous girl in Boston. Get in here."

Cormac had walked me to the door after school, and then walked off down the street without saying goodbye.

I had not liked how much that bothered me.

Nellie's bedroom had a slanted ceiling, a bed too small for two, and a fire escape outside the window.

She pushed a croissant into my hand and sat cross-legged in front of me.

"Okay. Tell me everything. Start with how you threw the ring."

I told her.

Halfway through, she stopped chewing.

"He's twenty-seven," she whispered. "My cousin's older than that, and he still eats cereal for dinner."

"I know."

"And your dad just, what, signed you over?"

"On September twentieth. Eleven days after my birthday."

"That's so gross I need to lie down."

She lay down on the floor.

I almost laughed, and I almost cried, and then I ate the croissant.

"Cormac Reardon," Nellie said to the ceiling.

"What about him?"

"He walked you to the door."

"He's working for Tino."

"Sure. And he's standing in front of you like a stop sign for fun."

She rolled onto her stomach.

"Livia, I've gone to school with that boy since the ninth grade," she said. "He has never once walked a girl anywhere."

"He lied to Tino for me. Last night."

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