“What thefuckare you fuckingdoing, you fuckingimbecile?” She shrieks. I stand there, gape-mouthed, while she pummels me with tiny fists. “You big, gullible, dumbass,why?They’re gonnachew you up and spit you out and when they take everything from you, then what?Thenwhat, Seba?”
It takes me a second to realize what she’s mad about.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” I hold up both hands in surrender. “It’s just a job?—”
Another hard thwack of the bag. “Jesus!”
“Working for my father is a death sentence,” she seethes.
She can’t be serious. “That’s a bit extreme?—”
That damn bag is gonna leave welts.
“You don’t know him! You have no fucking idea what you’re doing!”
She’s breathless and trembling, but it’s not only with rage. She’s scared. Which puts me on edge because this girl isn’t afraid of much. I check that we’re really alone before stepping into her space.
“It’s not a big deal,” I reassure her. “I just need money for tuition.”
Red simmers her heavily lined eyes. “You sold your soul… for money.”
I recoil. “I didn’t.”
“You just said?—”
“No! I mean— it’s not like that,” I protest, huffing out a short, exasperated breath. “Not all of us have rich parents, sweetheart.”
“Don’t patronize me,” she fumes. “Open your fucking eyes! You can't seriously buy his generous servant of God act.”
My gaze drifts past her. “You sound like Cade.”
She throws her arms wide. “Good! He doesn’t fall for bullshit!”
No, he’s just losing his damn mind.My molars grind. “You’re not telling him about this.”
A manic laugh leaves her. “You’vegotto be kidding me.” She spins in a circle. “This is a joke. A sick fucking joke.” Then she’s back in my face. “One, you don’t get to tell me what to do. Two, I haven’t heard from him—” A finger stabs mysternum, “or you— inmonths. Which is fucked up because both of you led me on.”
I’m in free fall.
“Both?”
“You heard me.” Tears perch on her lower lashes despite her snarl. “Cade did too. We kissed! And what’s worse is I miss you.Bothof you assholes.”
Cold shock paralyzes me.
“Wait. Youkissedhim?”
“I tell you I miss you and all you hear is that Cade kissed me?”
“Hekissedyou?”
NowI’mpissed and I’m not sure who I’m pissed at more: Her, Cade, or myself. Probably all three of us. (Definitely all three of us.)
“Sure fucking did!” She grins through angry tears. “And you know what else? I stopped him because ofyou.”
My heart flips and sinks. It doesn’t make sense, but something in me is relieved by what I’m hearing. That I’m not the only one caught between them and suffering for it.
A chirp.
