26
JILLIE
Fate, it seems, likes me today.
We enter the parking lot and Damon’s already here. His decked-out car has Hispanic music playing. He and his “homies” are just chilling when we walk over.
Damon tilts his head, and we all look over.
Audrey grins. “Perfect timing.”
Ella pulls into a parking spot behind ours, her eyes wide.
“I bet she’s about to piss herself right now,” I mutter.
Damon nods. “No doubt.”
Isla smacks me. “Here she comes.”
Her smile is as fake as it gets—so is her bravado. I can see her nerves.How does that feel?
“Slumming it?” she asks Damon.
“Nah, gave that up years ago—around the same time I kicked you to the curb,” he replies with a sneer.
Daaaamn.
Ella rolls her eyes then looks at me. “How do you know Damon?”
“Met him at church.” It’s not a total lie. We did meet him outside church.
“We’ve been bonding,” Isla tells her.
“Mhmm. Big time,” I add.
She steps up and gets in my face. My hands clench into fists.
“You’re gonna want to back out of my space, Ella,” I warn.
“Or what? What areyougoing to do?” she taunts.
Bitch!“I’ll punch you in that new nose job of yours. I’m tired of your shit.”
“What shit? I haven’t done anything,” she claims.
“Lies, all lies,” Audrey retorts.
“You keepyournose out of it,” Ella demands.
“I brokeyournose once. I’m not afraid to do it again,” Audrey threatens.
“My dad will sue.”
Audrey shrugs. “And lose.”
Ella’s face gets red, and looking at her, I can all but see imaginary steam coming out of her ears. She glares at me. “You better watch yourself.”
“Are you threatening me?” I ask.
“Damn right,” Ella replies.
“Has everyone noted that?” I ask, looking around. They all nod or mutter their yeses. “Well, note this too.” I bump forward into Ella causing her to shift a little off balance. “I’m not afraid of you.”
Ella laughs mirthlessly. “Oh, honey, you should be.” She pats my cheek twice, and that’s it for me. My arm swings out, and I slap Ella’s face, her head snapping to the side. She gasps, and immediately her hand flies up to cover her burning red cheek. “Bitch, you’re going to regret that.”
I snort. “The only thing I regret is that I didn’t do it sooner. To think I felt bad for being mean to you. Fact is, youdeserveit and more.”
“Watch your back,” she warns as she walks off.
The look she gave me… it tells me she means every word she says. But, really, what can she possibly do to me?
