Page 161 of If You Give an Artist a Killer Muse

She’s too good for you, too.

I don’t give a shit. She’s mine. She better fucking remember it.

I get up and feel a sudden urge to walk in the park. The doctor tells me I need to ease up on the cardio, but surely, a leisurely stroll won't hurt, right?

Upon reaching the park, a sense of urgency envelops me. I put on my headphones and begin walking along my usual route. Yet, an instinctual pull leads me toward a trail I've never explored.

Soon, I find myself on an unfamiliar path, causing me to stop walking and furrow my brow in confusion. Removing my headphones, I check the location of my phone's map.

Where the fuck am I, and why did I end up here? Why did I decide to be adventurous today and not stick to my usual route?

And then I heard it.

A melodic voice, laughing.

I turn off the music from the headphones and follow the voice.

“Oh my gosh, that’s so crazy!”

“Right? I’m serious. I’m never going fishing again.”

“Aww, that’s okay. Since I saw Finding Nemo, I’ve seen fishes as our friends.”

“That’s so cute, Briar. Are you a vegetarian?”

I stop, staring at the scene before me.

Briar is wearing black athletic shorts showing off her creamy thighs and a white unzipped sweater revealing a pink sports bra that does nothing to hide that cleavage.

I don’t know if I like that.

My eyes narrow. She’s talking to a guy, and his eyes keep sliding downward to her chest. I can’t help but feel annoyed at that bastard for looking at her like that, as if she’s some delicious, addicting candy.

I mean, she is… But that’s not the point.

Who the hell is this guy? And why does Briar have her hand on his arm? Is he another cousin of hers?

Briar throws her head back, laughing at whatever the man just said.

They obviously know each other. She can’t be that friendly with random people she just met, right?

“There’s a vegan restaurant I would love to take you. If you let me, that is.”

“Aww, Steve. It’s a date.”

Unexplainable anger surges through me, overwhelming and consuming.

Date my fucking ass.

I quickly sent Briar a text.

ME:

-Don't force me to remind you who the fuck owns you.

I watch as Briar pulls out her phone to check the notification I know she received. I watch her eyes widen, the number of times they blink repeatedly, and how her lips part into an O.

I swear I see her cheeks flush and her eyes brimming with lust. I think she will reply when her thumb hovers above the screen.

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