Page 359 of Mad Girl

My stomach twisted. “What’s your deal, bitch? Why are you so obsessed with me?”

“You fondled my boyfriend. Broke us up. Slept with him and lied about it. Sent me to the emergency room. And now Michael’s done with me for good. You think I’d let you get away with all that?”

“You think I’ll let you get away with showing Casey that picture? After what happened to your eye?” I took a step closer to her. “I will fuck you up.”

She cackled at that. “Game on, bitch.”

“I—”

You walked in, clutching your phone, a jacket draped over your arm. “Listen, I’m about to head out. Bree promised to sort things out with you. Don’t give her a hard time, yeah?”

“No, you listen.” I grabbed your wrist and dragged you into the hall, pulling you far away from Sienna’s prying ears. “I need you to stay home, okay? We need to talk.”

“I have plans.”

“It’s important,” I begged. “Please.”

You slipped your arm into the jacket. “It can wait until I get back.”

“Why are you even hanging out with her?”

“We’re friends,” you stated, and the casualness with which you could say so—the blatant disregard for my feelings, for everything she’d done to both of us—stung.

“She tried forcing you to sleep with her, Casey.”

“What’s the worst that could happen? She’ll use and discard me?” Your jaw ticked, your gaze locked on mine, piercing straight through me. “Been through that.”

I flinched, searching your face, desperate for a crack. A tiny sliver of softness. But there wasn’t any to be found. “Please don’t go.”

“Where was this urgency before? You made me wait weeks, Elliot. You can wait a few hours.”

You strode into the entry hall and Sienna followed, slipping past me with a wink, holding her phone like a loaded gun.

My heart pounded as you held the door open for her. She paused at the foyer mirror, checking her red lipstick with a hum of approval.

“Nate will be there,” she said, tossing you a wink. “He specifically asked if you were coming.” Her gaze met mine. “You should come, too, Elliot. Dip your toes in the crimson water.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“It’s at the Phoenix House,” she added, dabbing at the corner of her mouth. “Behind Mt. Auburn? With the ivy-covered gate and the creepy bust over the door? They’re calling it a ‘literary bacchanal.’ Whatever the hell that is.”

That bitch was baiting me.

You stepped forward. “She’s staying here.”

“Why?” she asked. “Scared she’ll cause a scene?”

“She’s staying,” you repeated, eyes on mine. “To sort things out with Bree.”

My heart dropped. “But Casey⁠—”

“Let’s go,” you said, placing your hand at the small of her back. The point of contact, though harmless, gutted me.

Sienna tossed a grin over her shoulder, waggling her fingers at me. “See you around, Elliot.”

As you walked out together, I rushed to the dining room window. Watched you open the car door for her. Watched Hal ease away from the curb.

And I knew—if I didn’t follow, she’d beat me to the truth.