The boys are already at the table. Caden’s got his usual broody face on and doesn’t turn to acknowledge me. Alfie gives me his usual sweet smile that always floods me with warmth, and Fiz gives me his usual devious wink and, to be honest, it’s not that jarring tonight. After everything that’s gone on, all the hatred and the mixed signals and emotional and physical pain, Fiz has always remained the same cocky, irritating but slightly entertaining man. And, despite his groping, wandering hands, he hasn’t actually done anything else to me since that awful attack on the kitchen island. We started off on the wrong foot, but perhaps that’s as bad as it gets with him. I’m still not a fan, but if we’re comparing anyone to Caden, everyone else will be a goddamn saint.
Once I’m seated, everyone starts digging in, scrapes of metal on china filling the tense silence. How is anyone supposed to breathe in this environment? It’s like walking through a burning house.
“So how was your little date?” Fiz asks.
I shrug. “Fine.”
“Just fine?” He turns to Caden, who nods once.
“Did you fuck and make up yet?”
“Fuck no,” Caden spits.
I scoff.
Fiz throws up his hands. “Honestly, you two, will you both just get a grip? I feel like we need an intervention.”
“The only thing he needs is a fucking psychiatrist,” I mutter.
“What was that?” Caden spits.
“Nothing,your majesty.” I flash him a fake grin.
“Seriously, Cade,” Fiz drops his hands on the table. “The Cleanse is over, you won the bet, she’s staying. Why don’t you run straight through that? Surely you must realise that will fix like ninety percent of your problems.”
I grimace. “Such a romantic.”
Caden huffs. “Enough, Fiz.”
Fiz throws out a hand gesturing to me. “It’s free pussy, bro, not bad looking pussy either.” His eyes turn to me. “Looks like she’s got a black belt in sucking dick too.”
“Wow, I’m flattered.” I flatten my brows at him to show my disdain. He just winks with a menacing smile.
When all Caden does is huff again, Fiz shrugs. “Well, if you don’t maybe I will. Or Alf.” He has the audacity to lick his lips at me.
I raise my fork, spinning it around in small circles at him. “If you come near me again, I will take this fork, ram it into your belly button, and twirl your intestines round like fucking spaghetti.”
Alfie spurts his mouthful of water across the table and chokes on his laugh.
Cade glowers at me before turning back to Fiz, flourishing a hand towards me in invitation. “Be my guest, brother.”
“You can’t scare me, little princess, I like them crazy, you should know this by now.” Fiz winks again and blows me a kissand I have to stop myself from dry heaving. “I thought you did too.” Fiz turns to Caden. “Thought you loved nothing more than taming a wild bitch.”
“Not this one.” Caden doesn’t even spare me a glance. “I’m sick of her. She’s been nothing but a headache. Can’t think of anything worse than fucking her.”
“I’d castrate you if you tried, anyway.” I look back down to my plate.
“Didn’t seem like that in the fitting room. Seemed desperate to have me fuck into you while I had you bent over.”
My teeth grit. My fists clench on the table. A scorching inferno of unfiltered fury pushes against the sides of my self-restraint, threatening to erupt. “That’s because I was picturing Alfie bending me over and dry humping me instead of you.” I don’t bother to look at the other two. Don’t bother to see what I imagine is Alfie’s discomfort and Fiz’s jaw hanging open.
Cade slams down the cutlery and leaps to his feet so fast I can’t stifle my flinch. “You know, I’ve just about had it with your fucking jarring little mouth.” He comes over to me with a look so deadly I’m sure he could kill me with that alone. “You think you’re hot shit?”
I match his glare. “Hotter than you, sure.”
The other two watch idly as Caden grabs me by a fistful of hair and yanks me to my feet. I work hard to keep the whimper in, and my face unscrewed from the instant pain.
“If that’s the case, fireball, you need to cool off,” he sneers, spittle flying onto my cheek.
