Page 48 of My Secret to Protect

Every time I looked at her tonight, I almost swallowed my tongue—she looked so fucking beautiful.

‘She’s real pretty though, huh, buddy?’ My head drops back to the sofa. ‘Ughh,’ I groan like a toddler having a tantrum. ‘I fucking hate that she still looks so good. I wish I could just pretend to be into her to get this shit done, but she’s disarming. I need to speed this up, bud.’

I pick up my cell phone, not the burner, and scroll to her contact. I told her to only use our real phones to keep up the act. I suspect the son of a bitch is keeping tabs on her cell, and I want to push him. I need this done.

Me: Knowing you’re just next door is torture. Tonight was perfect, sugar x

My burner vibrates a response, and I smirk as I pick it up.

Bree: Fuck you!

Laughing, I raise my glass to my lips again. That’s my girl.

Bree

Clutchingmystomach,Iroll onto my side and curl up in the fetal position. Apparently, exhaustion makes my cramps even worse than usual.

Reaching for my cell to check the time, I groan at the messages from my group chat with the girls,The Coven:

Zoe: Morning, sunshines. Um, twinnie, I heard a rumor you and a certain mountain man were 2 seconds away from making a baby on the dance floor of my bar last night!

Fantastic, this is exactly what I need when I feel like shit. I have a headache, a stomachache, and I’m in a bad fucking mood.

Me: It was one kiss!

Missy: Not what I heard. Kacey just told me that y’all were dry-humping right in front of everyone.

Cara: BREE!!

Me: We were not, Jesus! It was ONE KISS! This town is full of gossips.

Missy: So, he didn’t use you as a human boner shield?

Okay, so that part is true, but they don’t need to know that.

Me: No! God…

I stop typing and instead hold down the button to record a voice message.

‘You guys need to stop listening to gossip. We were dancing, we kissed, that was all. Now, I got my period about an hour after he walked me home, and you know how I get, so unless you all want to feel my wrath, drop it.’

‘Ugh.’ I groan, pushing myself up out of bed and to the bathroom. I don’t want to do a damn thing today. I don’t want to get dressed. I don’t want to cook. I don’t even want to shower. I just want to lay in bed, eat junk food, and maybe cry a little, but the knock on my door reminds me I have plans today. It’s my day off, and Arlo and I are supposed to be spending it together.

Pulling on my robe, I make my way downstairs and yank open the door.

‘Morning short st…’ Arlo’s voice trails off as he looks me up and down. ‘You okay?’

‘Peachy,’ I snap. ‘I need to cancel today.’

‘No can do, sugar,’ he steps close, ‘can I come in?’

‘Whatever.’ I walk into my house, leaving the door open for him. I need coffee.

‘Bree, what’s going on?’

I hear the door close and turn to see Arlo observing me with concern in his expression.

‘I have period cramps, okay?’ I grin wide, sarcastically. ‘I feel shitty and want to do nothing but stay in bed all day.’

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