Page 101 of Thorns of Malice

She nods and squeezes my hand. "Yeah, it was, and I'm sorry that I fucked you that night. If I had known you were drugged, honestly, I wouldn't have done it. Bobby's such a creep. So is Avery."

"Well, that's one thing we agree on," I add.

She wrinkles her nose, asking, "Why were you with Dyer?"

"To make Dax jealous."

We stare at each other, then start to laugh again.

When our laughter subsides, I inquire, "So why did you come back?"

"I don't know. I got the charity event invitation, and I had been avoiding coming back here for a while. I never really liked Clifton. California is so much better."

"So you're happy out there?"

"Yeah, I am. You should come visit. Soak up some sun with me!"

I smile. "I'd love that."

She adds, "I know L.A. like the back of my hand. We can have so much fun out there."

I smile bigger. "That sounds nice. I'd like that."

She claps. "Yay! Me too. I was hoping we could still be friends. I've missed you."

"I've missed you too. If I'm being honest, you were the last real friend I ever made. Well, except for my boss, Jaxon. But he's a different type of friend. After everything happened, I didn't trust anyone anymore."

"That's understandable." Her eyes narrow. "So, what will you do about Dax?"

"What do you mean?" I ask, my chest tightening.

She tilts her head. "You've seen the video, I'm assuming."

My stomach flips again, thinking about poor Matt and all those other victims Dax just broadcasted everywhere. "Yeah, I have."

"I'm assuming Dax leaked it?" She arches her eyebrows.

I don't say anything. For some reason, I feel like I need to protect Dax, even though he doesn't deserve any of it.

She smiles. "Well, I'm assuming that Dax leaked it."

"Why?"

She scoffs. "He hates Avery, Bobby, and Dyer. They all got what was coming to them, so I'm glad he did it."

I stay quiet.

She peers at me. "Why do you seem upset about this?"

"Because those people on the video have to relive things, just like you and I had to. Well, it sounds like it wasn't that bad for you."

She winces. "Sorry. I wish it were the same experience for you as it was for me, but it did perk up my social life even more, and I never thought that would be possible."

I stare at her like she's crazy.

She points to herself, stating, "Like I said, sex addict."

I laugh, confessing, "I love how you're so confident with yourself, Lilly. I wish I could be."

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