Page 1 of Vengeful Gods

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“Darling, just because you get to ogle hotties all day long and get paid for it does not exempt you from actually having to engage in human-to-human interactions.” Emerald does her best to give me one of her stern looks. Those gorgeous hazel eyes of hers glow in the light of the screen.

When I chew the inside of my cheek, she raises one manicured eyebrow at me in silent questioning.

“I know. I know.” Muttering more to myself than anything, I readjust my hair in the video chat image.

“And don’t think for one second that you can replace actual human beings with that giant squid dildo monstrosity you’ve got lurking in your bedside drawer.” She waves an almond at me before popping it into her plump mouth.

This woman knows nearly all my secrets. I’m sure she could successfully discover the answers to all of the world’s greatest mysteries from the comfort of her couch. She’d do it all without chipping a single one of her perfectly lacquered fingernails, too.

“I promise I’ve been good. I replied to like three of those weirdos in my inbox the other day.” What I don’t tell my best friend is that by reply I mean I actually deleted their messages without even opening them.

Life’s too short to waste time on idiots with stomach ulcer-inducing pickup lines. The kind of frat boys who have no interest in anything except for finding a warm hole at two in the morning after they’ve manwhored their way around town.

“You know I can see right through your bullshit, don’t you?” Her eyeball is so close to the screen I can’t help but snort with laughter. She looks like a creature from the deep. “Have you got any more clients booked in for the evening? Or can I finally convince you to come and have dinner with me tonight like a fully functioning human being?”

Emerald is the definition of relentless. I guess it comes with the territory of being in the online space and representing anything from lifestyle to clothing brands. She oozes class, sophistication, and style in a way that I’ve always hoped would rub off on me. But I’ve yet to see any results of my hoped-for style by osmosis.

“There’s a nibbles and mingling event at eight down on the waterfront, and it will be full of people who only drink kale smoothies and think that athleisure is a valid vocabulary term.”

I prop my phone up on the bench in front of me and flip open my trusty planner. While I love technology for some things, nothing beats my foolproof system of writing things down in a calendar in ballpoint pen.

Shaking my head, I glance back up at her. “Nope, I’m free and all yours for the rest of the evening…although I’m not entirely certain that you could call me a willing participant in whatever this is.”

Em grins at me with perfectly whitened teeth. Mine will never come close to dazzling as brightly as this girl’s smile.

She was born to be looked at. Em is the kind of natural beauty inside and out who deserves to be worshiped and appreciated everywhere she goes. Which is why I’m the first one to cheer her on every time she scores a new contract or a new opportunity to represent a brand. My best friend is paving the way for women who are beautiful and who just so happen to be curvy and luscious and decidedly not twig-thin.

And she unapologetically owns every single one of those curves on her frame. Since we first met years ago—randomly in a coffee shop on a rainy Tuesday, and she complimented my hair—I’ve been blessed to be in this girl's orbit. Safe to say, I inserted myself in her world and now refuse to leave.

“Wait, did you say eight? As in p.m.?” I grimace and scrunch up my nose.

Em scowls at me. “Bitch, your pussy is going to close up for good if you keep acting like a grandma and complaining that anything after seven is too late at night.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were a vampire.” I tease. “But for you, my queen, I shall make an appearance…even though I’d much rather be wearing my slippers and doing my knitting.”

“More like spread out on your couch with your vibrator, moaning your way through an orgasm.”

I produce an ungodly noise. This girl definitely knows far too many of my secrets.

“Let’s meet up earlier, and we can grab something that actually resembles real human food.” Em is busy tapping at the screen while she’s still on video with me. No doubt she’s already searching for whichever place is closest, where we can enjoy a meal and chat without being overwhelmed.

She also knows me so well that the thought of being in an overly crowded place gives me hives.

There are some shadows of my past that I simply can’t shake.

My best friend might not know the true reasons why I prefer to keep a low profile, but she supports me anyway, and I can’t help but love her endlessly for it.

She’s humming away to herself as her eyes flicker over whatever is showing on the screen in front of her.

“Okay, I think I’ve found us a…”

The door to my studio clicks shut, stealing my attention away from what she’s saying. As I look up, a presence fills the air. I’m not expecting anyone, and to be honest, I had no intention of taking any walk-ins this evening. Especially not now; I’ve just committed to plans with my best friend.

Whoever this is, they’re going to have to learn how to book an appointment or come back at another time.

“Hang on a moment, Em. Someone’s here.” I pick up my phone, keeping her on video chat as I walk around the corner of the partition and nearly forget my own name.

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