Page 79 of Clinch'd

Truthfully, I don’t know what to say, only that I’m fighting off the bile surging uncomfortably in my throat at the thought. But on the wings of the pain circling my chest is rage.

When he licks his lips and smirks, I slap him—hard. He rears back his eyes wide before grabbing my wrist and pushing me. I stumble away before leaning against the desk as he looms over me.

“What else could I do? There’s nothing else in your pathetic life worth taking. Go back to waiting tables, Minnie. There’s a cleanup on aisle fucking five.”

With that he walks out, and I stare at the door. No way that just happened. No way, but when I pull out my phone to call Lorri and confirm it was just a cruel joke, my heart sinks to find a message from her.

Don’t hate me, M. But I’ve finally found the one! I’ll call you after I’m settled.

Sitting down on the couch, I laugh in disbelief before wiping my eyes, because I refuse to cry. Not over him, and not over her, leaving me with this cruel fucking life that I created and slog through every day for her.

She left me for a rich dick, and I’m here holding the fucking pieces.

Lorri was already gone when I came home, along with her things or what she chose to take with her, leaving a blank space that eats at my heart.

Laying down on my bed, I stare at hers and sniffle because after all this time, I realize I’ve been creating an image in my head that was never real. Lorri didn’t need me, not like I neededher, and I’ve been putting my life on hold for nothing, because she was never going to get her shit together.

And Cooper? Well, he may have found the cruelest way to get his revenge, his mean words still echoing in my brain, but he doesn’t know what he’s signed up for.

Lorri isn’t stable. She never has been, and he’s only confirmed her delusion that if she just waits for it, the life she’s been lying to herself about will present itself.

More fool him.

Lorri is selfish and reckless and impulsive. Maybe he deserves her, after all, he’s already declared her a better fuck.

Still, I can’t live with the yawning pit in my stomach so I do something I would have never done before. I pull my aching body from the bed and get dressed. I guess I don’t need to worry about feeding my fucking sister, so I might as well go out and drink away the pain.

Chapter 31

Cooper

“What if we move this here, baby?” Lorri asks and I rub my aching brow.

I’m already regretting this stupid fucking scheme, but I had to make a move and if what Beast said was true, Minnie came after me because of her sister.

However, since I’ve been wooing Lorri, she’s never made any indication that she recognizes me and isn’t all that keen on talking about her sister.

I guess that’s my fault but for this to work I had to tell her I’d fucked her sister. There’s no way Minnie wouldn’t fire back with that little tidbit. Strangely, Lorri didn’t have much to say on the topic to my relief.

I knew it could backfire but from what Beast has said about Lorri, I hoped she wouldn’t care. I was right about that because she’s been more interested in rearranging my furniture than asking how it went down with Minnie.

The thought shouldn’t burn but it does. Is Lorri completely oblivious or that fucking selfish?

Whatever. I’m here for answers. I don’t care about either sister because both are the reason I’m here, stripped of my career and fighting to save my reputation.

Not to mention, since I’ve been ousted from the circuit, I can’t keep my eyes and ears out for Monroe, who’s still fucking gone.

“So,” Lorri says with a little shimmy. “You wanna show me the bedroom?”

Ignoring the burn in my chest, I shake my head and say, “Not yet, baby. I have to stay in top shape for when I get back in the circuit.”

“Hm,” she says with a small frown, and I turn away. Exactly how long is she going to believe that lie?

Who knows but I feel nothing when she comes on to me and I’m hoping it’s because I know she’s a stone-cold liar. And the tiny voice in my head that points out my hardon confronting Minnie earlier can go fuck it.

I don’t want either fucking sister.

Chapter 32

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