Page 81 of Enraged

Why does she think she can sexualize her way out of this?

My phone vibrated in my hand. My stomach dipped when I realized it was a text from Lena.

I’m sorry, what?

Rage turned over in my gut.

That didn’t take long.

I wanted to ask her if she had lost her damn mind. I wanted to flip my desk the fuck over. I wanted to go to her house and talk some sense into her, but deep down, I knew it was her life, and she was smart enough to make her own decisions.

No matter how completely fuckin’ stupid the decisions are.

I couldn’t think of a supportive response, so I decided not to reply at all.

After putting my phone in the top drawer, I stood up from my desk chair.

Time to go take out every bit of this goddamn frustration in the weight room.

Jolene

I can’t believe I sent that text.

I knew I shouldn’t have but I was still so irritated from Cassie’s dumbass picture message that I sent it without thinking.

Talkin’ to Jace was a diabolical text to send, knowing the only thing you said to Jace was that he needed to stop callin’ you.

I checked my home screen for a response from Dak, disappointed to find there was nothing there. I tapped our text feed.

He read it thirteen minutes ago…

“He better not be judging me. A text is nothin’ compared to sleepin’ with someone,” I said to myself.

I unbraided my hair, lettin’ it fall in loose waves.

My mama stuck her head in my room. “Your car is here, honey!”

Thank goodness.

“Great, thanks, Mama!”

Time to do a little…investigating.

Grabbing my keys and my purse, I ran down the stairs, taking them two at a time.

“I’ll be back, Mama!” I called out, grabbing my boots on the way out the front door.

“Where you headed, Shug?” My daddy questioned from around the side of the porch.

I didn’t even see him standin’ there.

He was painting my mama’s rocking chairs, the man unable to let his hands ever rest.

I walked over to where he was working. “I’m gonna go by the bank, Dad,” I lied. “Just gonna go say hey to everybody. I’m goin’ stir crazy.”

He slowly dragged his brush along the arm rail. “I understand.”

“Thanks for gettin’ my car home for me! I’ll be back soon.” I kissed the top of his old, faded Georgia Bulldogs hat.

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