Page 18 of Villainous Summer

Nico, like many in the area, worked for the Department of Defense, building torpedoes or ships or something for the military. Between the three bases in our county, it was the largest employer in the area. You couldn’t spit a wad of gum without hitting someone who worked on base.

“Sure, yeah.”

“So, we have this new guy that started in our code. Cory Thompson. I think you know him?”

At Cory’s name, a chill settled in my stomach.

With a shaky hand, I grabbed my drink and gulped half the tart cocktail.

My reaction must have been the confirmation he needed.

“A week or two ago, Thompson started running his mouth. He kept bragging about some chick he had on the side. And he was flashing your picture around.”

A bone-deep chill soaked my bones.

“Wha—” I cleared my throat, the question scaring me as the trembling words tumbled out of me. “What kind of picture?”

Nicolai had the decency to look away, his cheeks pink.

“I didn’t look at them. Told him to put the phone away. You’re a kid to me. I mean, I know you’re an adult but not really. At least not to me.”

A lump formed in my throat that I couldn’t swallow.

Cory was a cheater, but he wouldn’t, would he? He told me he’d delete them. My right eye twitched as I tried to make sense of what Nico said.

“Are you sure they were—”

Of course they were me. It was one thing to have my photos on his phone but another thing for him to show other people. Ones I might know.

“It was you. I recognized your birthmark.” He coughed into his fist. “I mean, I’ve seen you in a swimsuit before, so—”

My birthmark. A large brown misshapen daisy mark covering the ribs on my right side.

Bringing my drink to my mouth? I knocked the rest back. This fifteen-dollar cocktail was meant to be savored, but I needed to fuel the fire building in my chest.

“He’s a piece of shit. If it wouldn’t risk my security clearance, I would have punched him. I won’t tell anyone.”

It was a kind gesture, but if Nico had seen my boobs, then so did countless others. As if it wasn’t bad enough to be the other woman, he was sharing my private photos.

Before discovering this, I had filed Cory under the “shitty boyfriend” column. But this was grounds for an upgrade.

Swallowing the simmering fire in me, I set my empty glass down. “I appreciate it, Nico. I’ll handle it.” I waved at Neil to get me another drink.

It was far too early to be slamming hard liquor, especially at my job, but if I couldn’t dull the wrath, it would fester inside me and make me do something very, very bad.

Doubt flashed over his face. Maybe he could imagine my plans, but instead of offering more insight, he changed the subject, asking about my dad.

After drinking his beer, he wished me well, giving me a second one-armed hug before leaving a healthy tip for Neil.

Why can’t a nice guy like that be into me?

“Starting early, sunshine?” My date eyed the drink, a frown playing on his full lips.

Did he have to be so handsome? It was disgusting. He had one of those sharp jawlines, like a model out of a cologne commercial, just the right amount of scruff and hard lines.

“You okay to come to the party?”

Tapping my nails together, I considered his question. This was my out. I could go home and plot the demise alone in my small apartment. Or I could go to this party with a sinful-looking man, get all the pictures I wanted, then plot Cory’s fate.

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