Page 32 of Best Served Cold

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“Where’s your shadow?”

I bit back a sigh as Chanel sidled up to me. “Busy.”

River had gone off with a couple of guys to check out the new firepit in the backyard. Knowing the guys he was with, they were most likely burning everything that wasn’t nailed down. Hopefully someone had hid the lighter fluid.

“I know what your endgame is.”

“What?”

“You’re one of those podcast bros. Like those incels who think the way to get with a girl is to be an asshole to her.”

“You think so, hmm.” I kept all the inflection out of my voice.

“Obviously.” She stepped in front of me and crossed her arms over her ample chest. “And it’s not gonna work.”

“It’s not?”

She glared. “You’re still doing it.”

“Am I?”

“Ugh!” She stomped her foot. The smell of coconuts and booze tickled my nose. “Fine. Let’s do this.”

“Do…what?” I asked, genuinely confused.

She gave me an appraising look. “Fuck.”

“Yeah, no thanks.” I snort-laughed.

“Really?” She put her hands on her hips. “You saying you don’t want me?”

“Not in this lifetime.”

“Liar. I know what you’re doing, and this is your one chance to get what you want.”

“Go. Away.”

“Is that really what you want me to do? Or do you want to take me upstairs and show me how much you hate me? Come on, Zane, we both know you want to. Unless there’s a reason you never hook up. Do you even have a dick? Maybe you have a micro peen and that’s why you’re always so angry—”

“Stop talking.”

“Or what?” she taunted, swaying on her feet slightly.

Yup, she was drunk.

Fucking perfect.

She poked me in the chest.

“Don’t touch me.” I managed to keep the growl out of my voice, but she was pushing me closer and closer to my limit.

“Why not?” She poked me again, hard enough to sting a little. “What’s big, bad Zane gonna do about it? You gonna hit a girl?”

I clenched my fists. Anger flowed through me like liquid fire, setting my nerves and my entire being on edge. I was backed into a corner and the only way to get away from her would be to push past her.

I was an asshole, but I didn’t put hands on people smaller than me. Not unless I had to.

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