Page 118 of On a Fault Line

“Mom!” Nic and Graham scold, making everyone laugh.

Except Dad isn’t laughing. He’s just staring at her with adoration.

I swear they love each other a little bit more each day.

I take a sip of the carbonated fruity drink.

And another.

And just one more.

And by the time the song switches over on the sound system, I am pouring myself another glass full.

I guess I’m a fan of Sex in the Driveway.

I grab a slice of my flag cake and start eating it like a cupcake with my fingers, using sweets to distract myself from Collins’s eagle-eye solo staring contest he must be having with the side of my face.

I refuse to look his way.

Glancing over the icing and berries, I see Ivan perfecting the smoldering look.

Sheesh. He keeps doing that and I know Collins will bash in his face like a piñata.

My eyes flick back to Collins.

Seriously. He needs to take it down a notch.

The possessive thoughts are so obvious in how his eyes refuse to look away from me. It’s as if he is amping himself up to go to battle with my invisible suitors. If he thinks Ivan is interested in me other than getting a deeper foot into the architecture business with my dad, then he simply is jealous. And with each sip of my beverage, I’m feeling ballsy enough to tell him just so.

To distract myself, I decide now is the perfect time to text my man-child.

Penny: You so jelly

Collins: Drink some water, Penelope

Penny: Ur cum tastes better I wants to be your lil CUM SLUT

I sneak a glance his way, while biting my lip like a seductive self-cannibal. At least Ifeelsexy.

I’m on a roll with my good ideas too, so I better ride this wave until I crash.

Penny: I just want a man to devour me like I dessert

Penny: Shit—deserve. Ducking auto correlate

Penny: duck

I growl. What is wrong with this thing?

Penny: FUCK

Great.

Even my phone is drunk.

I toss it onto a lounger.

Stupid thing.

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