He brings in his own blizzard—that’s how cold we’re talking here.
When I look up, I see why—Addison’s there. Dyers’s arm is around her. He looks at ease, all quiet luxury with a few lingering bruises around the eyes, while she’s the opposite—oh,sheiswearing eight-hundred-dollar jeans but she seems all kinds of uncomfortable.
“Even if you weren’t a junkie, Dyers, your opinion would mean shit to me. Am I desperate?” Zach gently rubs his lips over my temple. “Hell, nah, that’s why I’m with Denny. But ever heard of that saying ‘people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones?’ You’re the one parading my sloppy seconds around…”
When Addison flinches at the admittedly dickish comment, Dyers skips a look between her and Zach while I study him.
Dyers’s one of those slick and slimy douche canoes who uses his family’s rep and bank accounts to get by.
Even before the shit Callan shared with me, Zach whined about the other guy’s asshole attitude.
“You want to watch your mouth, Bradley,” Dyers snipes.
“I think it’s you who’d better watch it. I already busted your nose once this semester. I’d hate to fuck up those pearly whites of yours too.”
I don’t knowwhenZach ‘busted’ Dyers’s nose. He never told me he was behind the dick’s black eyes, but the revelation has the other guy bursting with rage.
“If Addisoniswhat you say, she’s prime meat—” I gape at the… What the fuck even was that? A compliment? “This… whatever this is. A social experiment? I mean, I’d heard you were cozying up with…” Dyers’s top lip twitches as he purposely doesn’t use my name.“I knew your standards were low, but I had to see it with my own eyes.”
“I’d say you’re the one holding the social experiment. Can two cousins effectively breed without their offspring having issues…? I think that’s called consanguinity,” Zach taunts, but he cracks the knuckles of the hand not holding onto me with his thumb.
Oh, boy.
“Fuck you. We’re not cousins.”
I quip, “Some comeback.”
Alec frowns. “I thought your mother was related to?—”
“Shut your face, Alec,” Dyers hisses, bristling with all the presence of a tomcat.
But it’s too late—the rest of the table’s snickering.
And now is not the time for me to be a wallflower.
“Addison was so desperate to be back in Zach’s bed that she stole his house key.” I tap my chin. “If she rolled out of yours and wanted straight into his, doesn’t say much about your prowess.
“You know what that word means, don’t you, Dyers? ‘Prowess.’ Maybe not or you’d have some.” And I don’t have to like the woman to hand out some free advice. “Honey, we already talked about self-respect, but I think you need to get yourself some self-esteem too.” Because if she jumped out of this morning’s frying pan and into this disaster with Derek, she needs someone to help her smell the coffee. “You’re way too good for this counterfeit version of Zach. I can recommend a therapist. You need one. Not just for stealing people’s shit and breaking into houses, but for even breathing the same air as this loser. I’ve heard of kissing cousins but…”
“A counterfeit version ofthisasshole?” Derek snaps, dragging up his shirt sleeves like he’s getting in line for a fight. “Loser?! Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?!”
“She’s talking to the dick who strolled up toourtable to cause trouble. Who’s repeatedly insulted her. Who needs to back the fuck away before I make him.” Zach takes a sip of his coffee. It’s slow. Measured.
Dangerous.
Honestly, I didn’t know that a drink of coffee could be that, but oooh, boy, Dyers needs to back the fuck off.
With a sharp squeak of his fork across his dish, Mason yanks the attention onto him. “She’s not wrong, Dyers. On assists alone, he wipes you out. Youarea counterfeit version of the main manandyou need to let go of Addison right this second. You’re hurting her.”
My gaze glances off a strange mark on his forearm, one that’s almost like a brand, when I notice how the muscles are tensed as his griptightens further. To the point where she recoils in pain. Her shoulders hunch once she realizes how we’re all looking at her, but she can’t contain her wince as he uses his hold on her to haul her closer to him.
Pecan jerks to his feet. “He’s right. Look at her. She’s paler than an egg-white omelet!” He punches Dyers’s forearm. “Let her go.”
“This has nothing to do with you.”
“Then I’ll make it something to do with me. Addison, do you want to leave?”
Trembling, she nods.
