Page 60 of Thorns of Malice

"Don't drink that!" Dax frets.

"Shut up, Dax," Bobby orders.

My heart beats faster.

Did he lace my drink again?

So what? It's already in me and destroying my life.

What's the worst it can do?

If anything, it'll make me go through with this plan, giving me the courage to do what's repulsing me.

I go to take another sip.

Dax grabs the glass out of my hand. Alcohol splashes on the floor. He declares, "You're not drinking anything he or Avery gives you. "

Avery objects, "Why am I included in this?"

"Like you don't know," Dax hurls.

Anger fills me. "You don't get to tell me what to do, Dax."

"Yeah, Dax. You don't get to tell her what to do," Bobby echoes.

I laugh.

Bobby arches his eyebrows. "What's so funny?"

"Are you a parrot, Bobby?"

"Huh?" he questions, wrinkling his forehead.

I put my hand on his cheek. "Aww, you were never very smart, were you?"

His gaze narrows.

"Nope! That's no-brains Bobby!" Avery chirps.

"A parrot!" Lilly cracks up.

Bobby scowls at her. "What the fuck are you all talking about?"

I try to stop laughing and state, "Parrots repeat things. Is that what you are? A parrot?"

He stares at me.

I stop smiling, asserting, "No one gets to talk for me, so stop repeating what I say."

"Bravo!" Lilly cheers, clapping.

Avery follows suit.

"Shut up," Bobby seethes.

I wiggle my finger in front of his face. "Uh-uh-uh. That's not how this is going to work tonight."

He scrubs his face, spouting, "What are you talking about, Ivy?"

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