Page 162 of Tricky Girls

I won’t come between them. I’d leave before I blew the three of them apart. Bros before hoes and all that. Thing is, I think Nic would too. As much of a bitch as she is, she does love Elly and Haz. It took me while to see it but it’s there in every interaction they have, as acerbic as they may be sometimes.

In the face of all of this, it’s easy to forget I actually haven’t done anything to the bloody girl. That her hatred for me’s unfounded. I’ve gotten so used to it I don’t even question it anymore. Kind of fucked up.

When Elly finishes her burrito, she lies down too, spooning me from behind whilst Haz remains solid and warm next to me.

At least we have today. A day without Nic, a day to explore whatever’s going on here. I don’t want to lose all this before it begins. I don’t want anything marring this beautiful, burgeoning thing.

I’ll have to have it out with Nic. It’s the only way any of us are going to be able to move forward. It won’t be pleasant; I imagine it’ll be downright messy. Tricky when she won’t even begin to show me what’s going on in that vault of a mind of hers.

Maybe that’s where I can meet her. My eyes pop open at the thought. Come down to her level, possibly to the detriment of myself. She was freer in that godforsaken place. Almost human. Get her in one of those little glass rooms again and we might actually get somewhere.

The back of my neck tickles when Elly sighs, her lips pressing a soft kiss there. I let my eyes fall closed, purging Nic from my mind. It’s not a day for her. It’s a day for them—for us.

Nic can bloody well wait.

CHAPTER 33

Nic

My lungs burn as I drag deep on the cigarette between my fingers. I let the smoke obscure my vision—my pretty demon and her two angels beside her. The wall I lean against is cold, mirroring the vice grip on my heart.

Vipers’ smoking area is busy but there’s a clear shot right to them. Like the Red Sea parting. Fitting since the lights are that colour tonight.

Haz is perched on a pile of crates, Tilda between her legs with Elly teasing her with kisses. Tilda laughs, inaudible to me, pressing back into Haz.

Wholesome.

I flick my cig away, watching it extinguish under a passing foot.

Sickening.

When did it get to this?

Feel like I’ve missed a step or a thousand.

They hadn’t told me. Not even Haz.

Even through the vodka flooding my veins, that hurts.

I’m the one to blame. I’m not ignorant. But if one of those girls came home professing a hatred for someone, you bet I’d hate them too. No questions asked. I thought we were tight like that.

All over a girl too. Fucking cliché.

‘Never seen you so gone on someone.’

I don’t stir at Skylar’s voice. I’ve seen her skulking around tonight. After Haz, no doubt. But since she’s otherwise occupied, I’m an alright backup.

‘You don’t mean a thing to me.’

Skylar laughs. ‘Fucker. You know I’m not talking about me. Clever, though,’ she muses, watching them too. ‘Letting them do all the hard work. Breaking her in. Getting her used to pussy.’ On tiptoes, she puts her mouth to my ear. ‘Waiting topounce.’

‘Skylar.’ I lean away from her. ‘Either fuck off or be fucked.’

By the way she presses into me, I know she’s chosen the latter.

‘I can pretend to be her, if you want.’ She picks up a dark strand of hair and twirls it. It’s similar, about the only thing that is. ‘I know I’m a troll but get you drunk enough and I could pass.’

‘Believe me, you wouldn’t want to be fucked that way.’ I toss her a quick glare. ‘And don’t speak shit. You’re not a troll. I don’t fuck trolls.’

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