Page 65 of Battle Scars

“What the hell was that?” I hiss once we’re behind closed doors.

“All’s fair in love and war,” he says with a happy smile.

“There will be no love here if you continue to try to play me,” I warn him.

“Come on, Addie,” he cajoles, and I see a little glimmer of my childhood friend. “I didn’t mean any harm.”

I sigh. “I know that you didn’t mean it, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay either. Look, I’m too tired to deal with this shit right now.”

“I’ll try to be better,” he says before placing a kiss on my cheek. Then he’s gone, and I’m left wondering what the hell just happened.

“I really don’t like that guy,” Eli mutters under his breath, but I can hear him clearly.

“He’s not that bad,” I reply, and he glances at me with a you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me look on his face. I guess no one likes me today. I’ll just have to survive without my fan club. “Really. I promise.”

“So, you’re gonna marry that jackass like all the sports channels are saying?” he drawls as Manny walks up.

“That burro drives me apeshit,” Manny says. “There’s something about him that I just don’t like.”

“He’s not that bad,” I snap. I’m feeling more than a little frustrated that these two think they can weigh in on my life when it’s their friend who left me brokenhearted. Then again, I’m desperately praying they don’t know about that. “And what is a burro anyway?”

“A jackass,” Eli explains before throwing me right under the bus. “Addie was just telling me how she’s going to marry the moron.”

Manny narrows his eyes on me, and I throw my hands up in the air. “I was not!”

“And she let him kiss her in front of the paps outside,” Eli further explains.

My eyes go wide as Manny’s face turns bright red. “I did not!”

“Did he kiss you?” Manny asks, his voice deceptively quiet.

“Yes,” I admit. “But he caught me by surprise.”

He sighs. “This is going to be a problem,” Manny says cryptically.

“I know,” Eli replies.

“What are you guys talking about?” I can’t help but ask.

They look at each other before looking back to me, and I know without a doubt that they are about to lie to me.

“Nothing,” they say simultaneously.

I just roll my eyes. “Fine. I need to go run some tapes anyway.”

“I’ll go with her to the down room,” Manny murmurs.

My face goes hot, because the last time I was in the down room with a member of Stonegate Security, dirty, dirty things happened.

“I’ll do a perimeter sweep,” Eli says.

“Report to me before you report to Gabe,” Manny orders.

My chest tightens when I hear his name. Shit, I’ve got it bad. It’s like a fist clenches my heart just hearing someone mention him. I’m going to have to go lick my wounds on a deserted island when this season is over and the madman who wants to cut me up is caught.

“Will do,” Eli says. He turns on his heel to walk off but spins back. “Hey, have we thought that maybe Randolph is involved in the threats against Addie?”

No. I want to immediately deny it. Bobby wouldn’t hurt me, we’re friends. I’ve known him my entire life. He wants to marry me, not cut me up, right? But after what Gabe said about the threats against me, I’ve not dismissed the danger around me so easily. I thought it was an overzealous fan; now, I’m questioning everyone.