First of all—fucking bitch. Second of all—what the fuck was that supposed to mean?
My face sunk and I put my muffin down.
“Oh, sweetie,” Samara sang, her tone embellished with false sympathy. “Did I upset you? That wasn’t my intention.”
Bullshit.
“Don’t get me wrong, you're quite pretty. I just meant that Sebby tends to pick…slimmer girls.”
My eyes bulged.
I gained the weight back that I’d lost over the winter when I was sick, along with a few pounds extra, but I looked good—healthy. I’d never been small by any means, but I had always been a healthy weight for my height, which was a tad above average for a woman.
“At least he used to, anyway. But what can I say?” she added with a shrug. “Standards change.”
Pulling my shirt away from my stomach, I cleared my throat. She was just trying to get a rise out of me, and two could play at that game.
“I guess he prefers having hips to hold on to while he’s being ridden,” I said flatly, dropping my gaze from her once I was satisfied with her look of pure shock. Then, just to shove it in further, I resumed eating my pastry.
She actually looked amused, not pissed like I had hoped.
“Interesting. He always liked todothe fucking when he was with me,” she provoked, her lips curving into a devious half-grin.
Don’t vomit, Maeve. She is just trying to get a rise out of you.
“Maybe you just weren't good at it,” I shot back.
Sawyer arrived just in time. “Awfully early to be talking about sex, don’t you think?”
Finally, somewhat frazzled, Samara’s smile vanished when Stella walked in behind him. “Awfully early to behavingsex, don’t you think?”
Sawyer shrugged as he took the seat besideme—not Stella—and swiped my half-eaten muffin, stuffing the whole thing into his mouth. “This bitch giving you a hard time, Maevey baby?” he asked, kicking his boots up on the table while he chewed.
Was that all it took for Sawyer and me to return to normal? Him hooking up with a rebound? Ortworebounds, rather?
“No. She just seems a little self-conscious, that's all,” I answered.
Samara threw her head back and full on cackled. “Oh, darling, I amfarfrom self-conscious. I’m just trying tounderstand how he could go from fucking me, to fuckingyou.” She shook her head, her black hair swaying side to side. “We're justsodifferent.”
Anger at last boiled up inside of me, starting at my toes and almost reaching the top of my skull where it threatened to blow out of me like lava.
Clasping my hands together, I dug my nails into my skin to keep some form of control. “I think it makes perfect sense, actually. No one's saying you aren't beautiful, Samara. But I have a feeling that if you were to be gutted, all that would be inside is ash and tar.” She opened her lips to speak, but I kept going. “You may have known Sebastian longer than me, but I know him better than youevercould. And I know that he isn’t so shallow as to choose someone purely for their looks over what's on the inside. And if you were to gut me, you would be shocked at how pretty and sparkling my organs look.”
I ignored Stella’s flawless grimace. Someone had a weak stomach.
“And I know I’m not as slim as you, but I am beautiful, and screw you for trying to make me feel like I’m not,” I added, turning my attention away from Samara’s furrowed brows.
“What kind of disgusting analogy is that?” Stella garbled in the background.
“Listen, if it makes you feel better, then you can hate me all you want for having exactly what you wish you could. But hating me won’t change anything. If Sebastian wanted to be with you, he would have kept you around the first time. It’s not my fault you don’t have enough redeeming qualities for him to fall in love with you,” I finished with a sharp exhale.
Harsh? Maybe. The truth? Absolutely.
“Damn.” Sawyer snickered, running a palm down his face as he tried not to chuckle. “Sorry, Samara, but she’s right. In fact, I think I recall Seb saying something after he ended things withyou about how you were a conniving bitch. Pretty sure you were just a subpar lay for him.”
I cringed, but held my poised posture.
With Sawyer getting the last word, Samara huffed and she rose to her feet. Her heels clicked as she stormed out of the room, leaving her cup of tea to cool on the table.
