Page 3 of From Our First

“Do not take that lady of the manor tone with me. You might be a rich girl, but I have the power here.”

I inwardly cringed at that because I didn’t like the fact that she was right. She did have all the power, and Iwasa little rich girl.

I was the friend with the trust fund, the pearls around her neck when she turned ten who had gone off to boarding school and then been offered entrance into every single Ivy League college I wanted to attend.

My one act of rebellion had turned into a horrendous mistake for everybody involved and was a complete breach of trust.

I was everything Paris thought I was—and the worst version of it.

“Why am I like this?” I asked myself, not realizing that I had said the words out loud until Paris snorted over the phone.

“You’re like this because you’re scared. Remember, I have the power.” Paris laughed. “I’m sure you look wonderful as always. Now, slip your feet out of your work shoes and into those sexy yet casual heels you wear whenever you’re in the coffee shop, grab your purse, and get your ass over here. It is your turn, and we are not going to let you get out of this.”

I winced, trying to think of a way out of this reality. “I think after everything that’s happened with our crew, our sisterhood, maybe it’s time to take a step back and reaffirm what we have.”

“No, no. Save all of your backpedaling for when you’re in front of us. You know I don’t care.”

“Paris,” I said, shocked and yet not even a little bit surprised.

“Don’tParisme. You pushed me into this pact, and I went on some seriously horrendous dates.”

“But you got the love of your life out of the deal, so it worked out.” I shut my mouth even as the words fell from my lips. Why had I said that? Maybe because I always had to be right. Because I had to prove to Paris that pushing her into the pact had been good for her.

And now it was going to bite me on the ass.

Damn it.

“We’re not even going to dignify that with a response, are we? Especially considering you helped my case and all. You’re going to get your ass over here, and we’re going to figure out what we need to do with you, Ms. Myra, darling.”

“Paris.”

“Nope. Get dressed, or we will come to you. We will circle you like vultures. Happy and in love vultures, waiting for you to take the next step. You pushed us into this, Myra. And now it’s your turn.”

Paris let out a cackle and then hung up the phone.

I just blinked down at the black screen and shook my head.

“Overdramatic much?” I asked.

A text popped up on the screen.

Paris:Yes, that was overdramatic, but I’ve been practicing my evil witch laugh, and I think I have it down. Now, get your ass over here. Immediately. Or I’m going to send a certain someone over there to pick you up, and it’s not going to be one of us girls.

I froze. I knew exactly who she’d send over here. And it wouldn’t be one of the men my best friends had fallen in love with. It wouldn’t be another friend or a casual coworker.

No, it would be the one person that I could not be in the same room with. Despite our tentative truce, I knew Paris would get what she wanted.

She’d get under my skin, ruffle my feathers, and do all of the other metaphors out there to piss me the fuck off.

I had to do this. I could do this. A couple of dates, a few cute and casual glasses of wine with some very handsome men—hopefully, ones that didn’t talk about their mothers all the time, and didn’t have aDexterbasement full of tarps and easily accessible chainsaws.

I shivered at that thought and had to tell myself once again not to have that image. I’d only made it three episodes into the series before I had to stop watching it because of the nightmares. Now, they would all come back.

Maybe I could watch a marathon ofDexterinstead of going out and dating. Yes, that sounded like a much better idea.

Paris:I know you’re spiraling right now, and I don’t know where you’re going in that mind of yours, but I’m sure it’s scary and probably has an ax murderer in it.

I was a little worried about how well Paris knew me at this point. If I was at all attracted to her, maybe I should’ve dated her.

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