Page 35 of Her Devils

8.

The Pussy Strut

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Lenley

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JAMESON HAS A STRANGEeffect on me.

Like the liquor he’s the namesake of, he always goes straight to my head, and by the time we’ve eaten breakfast, inspected the aircraft they are going to jump from, and watched other athletes begin to arrive with their teams, I feel a little light-headed.

I have a buzz as if I had been drinking.

I can’t wait for the day to be over so I can spend time with Jameson later on, and I’m excited about the party. I have a sexy little black dress I brought back from Paris, and I’m glad I letMèméreconvince me to buy it when I thought it was too much.

I’m so distracted by the thought of how I’m going to do my hair and makeup that I don’t realize I’m walking straight into some major drama when I stroll into the Cove Angels’ team seating area.

“You’re an asshole!” Kiara’s shrill shout causes me to jump as she storms out of our branded marquee. “I can’t believe you, Darrius! I’m going home,” she screams, stopping a few feet away and glaring at the Angels’ team captain.

My eyes meet Mom’s and Sarah’s, and my bestie shakes her head to signify that I’m better staying out of it.

Mom looks annoyed and concerned at the same time.

“Do whatever the fuck you want, Kiara,” Darrius bites out, playing with the zipper on the front of his wingsuit. “But if you go home now, don’t bother coming back. If you walk out on me right before the first official jump of the season, we’re over.”

“You should be so fucking lucky, you cheating asshole!” my former best friend yells. “You fucked another girl while I was selling your fucking merchandise!”

I look at Darrius, surprised when he doesn’t even try to defend himself. “It isn’t what you think it is, Kiara. I have fans, and they love taking photos with me for their social media. I don’t have time to deal with your petty jealousy, I have an event to win.”

Mom intervenes. “Darrius is right, Kiara. Whatever the issues are between the two of you, this isn’t the time or place to discuss them.”

Kiara has known my mom since we were in elementary school, so she should know better than to object. “But, Gina, he waskissingthis girl on Instagram. A famous blogger posted about it and tagged me! When I went looking for Darrius, I couldn’t find him, and he didn’t come back to his room until dawn. I—”

Mom sighs. “It doesn’t matter, Kiara. Not right now. Discuss it after today’s events are over, and by the way, you can’t go home. You’re here as a part of the team, and you have work to do.”

“You can’t possibly expect me to work after what Darrius did!” Kiara yells, her voice strained with effort as she tries not to cry.

I look between Kiara and Darrius like you’d watch a tennis match.

“You heard Gina.” Darrius’s tone is hard, the muscle in his jaw popping. “We’ll talk about this later. Don’t make me regret getting you a job with the Angels and insisting on bringing you along to competitions.”

He stops to look at me, his brown eyes giving me a once-over, before he storms off, shaking his head.

“Come on, sweetheart.” Kyle descends the steps of the tour bus, wrapping his arm around Kiara’s shoulders. “I’m sure you guys will make up. Now go open the merchandise stand, because competition days are the days when we sell the most.”

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