Page 3 of Better than Revenge

“Excuse me?”

“What’s in it for me?” I enunciate each word, so she understands me perfectly.

“You mean besides seeing a guy you hate and called a ‘dickless wonder’ get crushed? What else do you want?”

There’s a hint of fear tucked behind all that bravado she’s putting out into the world. I wonder if it’s me she’s afraid of or just the situation. Maybe she’s just not used to…asking for help. Or maybe she’s not sure she can trust me yet. It’s going to be fun finding out.

“I’ll think about it and let you know, kitten.”

Chapter Three

Tamsin

“So does that mean you’ll do it?” I can’t keep the little thread of hope out of my voice as I ask.

“That means I’ll think about it, kitten.” The nickname sets my teeth on edge, but I don’t say a word because if I’m going to do this, I need him. It has to be him.

He reaches for me and for a moment I think he’s going to ask for whatever he wants right now. My mind is totally and firmly in the gutter. I’m thinking sexy contracts and him wanting my body as payment only to have him shove me towards the door unceremoniously. He nods his head in a silent command to go down the stairs when we both go through the door.

When I hesitate, he offers up a sort of weak protection from the car junkies down below, like that’s what I am upset about. “I’ll watch till you get to your car safe. No one will bother you while I’m here.”

Jeez, thanks. I’m so glad I can walk back to my car safely without getting hit on. How ever will I live without this kind of care and concern? Without saying another word to the asshole, I stomp down the stairs and make my way to my car. I berate myself the entire way home. I can’t believe I did something so stupid as to ask HIM for help. He’s probably laughing his ass off with his friends as they sit around and make fun of the poor idiot girl.

I had a couple of classes with Levi when we were in high school, but he was older than me and way cooler. I usually sat up front where all the dorks and nerds sit, and he sat in the back where all the cool kids and bad boys sit. I swear there were times when I felt like I could feel those dangerous blue-grey eyes boring into me even though I understood I didn’t have a chance with him and I had to be delusional thinking he was watching me. And now, I'm sure I was delusional. He couldn’t wait to get rid of me.

I got dumped by my boyfriend and my fake boyfriend all in the same week. Wow! I’m on a roll. Not to mention dumped by my ex-bestie as well. Three people in one week. And now I’m the laughingstock among half the town. I don’t know why I even tried. It was a stupid idea to begin with and was born out of a night with my best friend and too many wine coolers. What can I say? I’m a lightweight.

I really liked the idea of making that bastard suffer though. I wonder if I could find someone else that would piss him off as much as Levi would. Probably not. My phone rings and I pick up right away to let my friend know I have not been murdered or kidnapped by the very guy who has me so riled up now.

“So how did it go?” Sophie always knows just how to get to the point. No beating around the bush.

“About as good as I thought it would. He thought it was a stupid idea, I was a stupid girl, and short of laughing in my face told me to get the hell out of his apartment. I’m sure he and his friends are having a good time at my expense as we speak.”

“Oh, honey, I’m sorry. I thought it was a pretty good idea.”

“Yeah, well…I guess I’m just going to have to think of another way to make the son of a bitch hurt. Maybe running him over will be enjoyable. Think I can get both of them at the same time and everyone would still think it’s an accident?”

She laughs on the other end. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure you could be on the other side of the world, and they would still think you had something to do with it, babe.”

“But enough about my sad life, how are you and Max?”

Part of the reason I started dating Zane was because my best friend in the whole world had started dating Max. I was happy for her but seeing how Max treated Sophie made me want that for myself. It wasn’t so bad because April didn’t have a boyfriend either. Then she got one for a short time. And I was the only musketeer without a date. So, when Zane asked me out after reconnecting with me, I said yes. Then April broke up with her guy and…apparently made herself feel better by fucking my boyfriend.

She was always the weakest musketeer. The one who wasn’t really a ride or die but still sweet and silly and I thought she vibed with us. I was wrong about her and about Zane. And I guess I was wrong about Levi too. Maybe he didn’t hate Zane as much as I thought he did. Maybe he just doesn’t like me. Maybe he thought I got what I deserved because I dated someone like Zane. I turn the television on, so I don’t have to wonder and grab my computer to click away the world, more than ready for this day to be over.

Chapter Four

Tamsin

Two days later I’m pretty much doing the same thing when there’s a knock on my door. I get to work from home designing websites, business landing pages, and social media designs and I love it. I love that I don’t have to get dressed every day or start at a designated time or that I even work for someone else. Yeah, I have customers but as long as I make the deadline they don’t care when I get up or stop working.

So, I pad over to the door in my PJs and open my door with no thought to who it might be, just wanting to get back to work. I’m pulled up short when standing on the other side of my door is none other than the someone who has taken up way too much space in my mind.

“Levi? What are you doing here?”

“I can’t visit my girlfriend’s place?”

“Girlfriend?”

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