Page 184 of We Can't Be Friends

I get up from the chair.

“Where are you going?”

“To confront them.”

“Is that smart? Maybe they haven’t seen us, and they’ll leave soon.”

“Or could you have security kick them out?”

“Do you want me to?”

Do I? Would be funny.

Sighing, “No.”

“Okay, sit back down—” Cal doesn’t finish because we’ve caught their attention.

Seth and Tamara stand, drinks in hand, and walk over to us.

“Hey, Carlisle,” Seth greets. “Chloe.”

“What are you two doing here?” Tamara asks the question that has me on alert.

“This is my hotel,” Cal says cooly. His collected personality on lock. “We’re testing new cocktail recipes.”

“On a date,” I butt in aggressively. “Also, it’s Callum.”

Tamara sticks her hand out and introduces herself. I raise a brow, giving her a poisonous glare as she bats her overly mascaraed eyelashes at Cal.

“Date?” Seth’s attention is on me. His gaze roams over my body, and I hate being in his spotlight. “Is this who you are living with?”

“Is this who you cheated on me with?”

“One of them,” Tamara cockily chimes in.

I stifle a self-deprecating laugh. I should have known.

I give myself a moment to try to understand why she’d be bragging about that. “Right, and how many were there?” At least two. “Wait, don’t answer that. I don’t care.”

I don’t. I realized I never acknowledged what he did to his face, and maybe this is the universe allowing me to do that. Seth got away with what he did without repercussions.

He is a manipulator.

Seth was more concerned with my reactions to what he said and did rather than focusing on what he did or how he treated me. That is manipulation—sounds a lot like what Cal’s mom has done to him.

I turn to Tamara. “When did you sleep with him the first time?”

She bites her lip, pretending to think hard about it. “The same event you met him at.”

“So the entire time we,”—I point between myself and Seth—"were together. And you know he cheated on me with other girls while you two were also sleeping together?” She nods. “Why are you with him? Do you have that little self-worth to be with someone who will never appreciate you?” I may not like Tamara or want to be her friend, but she deserves better.

Since when am I protective of Tamara? Have I gone soft?

Seth is whispering in Tamara’s ear.

“Don’t listen to him. You are outspoken and determined. Don’t let that piece of shit sway you.” Now we’re turning the things that annoy you into positives about her. “Tamara.” She freezes.

Then turns and kisses Seth. I tried.

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