Page 112 of Seeds of Malice

All the girls say that.

"To show me how to be a better kisser," Bobby lies.

"No," Ivy declares.

Relief fills me.

I need to trust her.

Trust her?

Trust no one.

I'm losing it tonight.

Avery chirps, "See? I told you this party's too intense for her. Ms. Goody-two-shoes once more."

"Shut up, Avery," I order, but there's no stopping my sister.

"Why are you here if you're going to be such a downer, Dax?" Marcey accuses.

I give her a nasty look.

Cindy steps closer. "Ivy, I think you forgot something."

"What's that?"

Cindy slides her hands over my face and tries to kiss me. I jerk my head so her kiss lands on my cheek, barking, "Get off me. I told you I'm not interested in you anymore."

Ivy's eyes narrow.

Cindy locks her hands around my neck, whining, "Don't be like that."

Bobby asks Ivy, "Are you going to let Avery win all the time?"

"Yeah, she can't handle it. She's a hillbilly and always will be," Avery sings.

Ivy shouts, "I am not?—"

Bobby plants a kiss on her before she can say anything else, sliding his tongue into her mouth and holding her head so she can't escape.

My gut dives. Bile rises in my throat. Cindy holds on to me tighter, and I push her off me. She falls to the floor.

"Jesus, Dax!"

My insides tremble. Paralysis hits me as I stare at Ivy in Bobby's arms, his tongue pushing in and out of her mouth.

Those are my lips and tongue, not his to touch.

Ivy pushes against Bobby's chest, but he's holding her hostage. But then I see it. A moment where her fingers relax, and she kisses him back.

My paralysis eases, and I yank her away from him, snarling, "What the fuck are you doing, Bobby?"

Ivy's breathless. She gives me a worried look and then glares at him.

Bobby grins. "Why are you being a party pooper, Dax? I just wanted to see what it is you see in her. But I think Avery is right. I think she's nothing but a hillbilly."

Ivy's face falls, and tears fill her eyes.

---