Page 95 of The Reluctant Hero

“What video?” I ask in confusion.

“Singing?” He reminds me with raised brows.

I think back through the blurry haze while Cade starts laughing.

“Amanda got you up for karaoke? How?”

“I’m serious, Amanda. It’s one of her… pet peeves,” Shade insists. He’s starting to look a little pale.

I pull up my videos, and there it is. A blurry image of Shade using a beer bottle as a microphone. The angle is skewed horribly.

“Oh shit,” I start laughing. “I remember now. I saved it for her for later.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he says darkly. “She doesn’t likeanyonehaving pictures of me.”

I take in his serious expression and feel my heart drop. I guess pet peeve translates into dead meat.

“Well, shit. Not even if it’s for her as a surprise? I wanted her bestie to embarrass you guys with it at your wedding. Can I send it to you to send to her? Then you can watch me delete it as proof I don’t have it anymore. Wait, can I have your number, or will she be pissed about that too? Or do I have it already? Does this number ring any bells?” I hold up the phone with the mysterious second contact pulled up.

His mouth moves for a second as he considers, and then he pulls his phone out to shoot off a text. When he receives a reply, his hands drop, and he gives me a dubious look.

“What the hell are you doing to the people around me? Anything you do is ok.”

“I yell a lot?” I tell him with a shrug. “People are learning to fear short women with anger issues. Get over it. What’s your number?”

He snaps the phone out of my hands angrily and plays with it for a second.

“Is being a complete dick hereditary?” I glare. I ignore the scowl Gabriel gives me over it.

“Yes,” Shade says flatly and hands it back. “The number was fake. Nobody has 111 as an area code, dipshit. Stop letting Max play with your phone.”

“You deleted everything, right?” I double check to make sure and don’t find the picture or video. I sag with relief. “Sweet. Never touch my shit again.”

“Don’t have to now,” he says with a sly smirk. “The wedding is in two weeks. A small affair, hopefully.”

I glance up from my phone, surprised to find him looking at me instead of Gabriel.

“Why are you tellingme?”

He slips his sunglasses onto his face with an evil smile. “South wants you there. You’re going.”

I drop my head back with a groan. “No. No fucking weddings for me. Ever again. I’ll stand outside and form a solo mosh pit instead. It counts.”

“You can walk in on your own, or you can have the tied up and sedated option,” he tells me. He sounds serious.

“Fuck you,” I snap back and toss a highlighter at him. “Be happy and smug somewhere else, dick.”

“Have a great lunch, asshole,” he tells me ominously. It makes me wish I could actually hit what I aim at. “I’ll get you the info as soon as I get it, Gabe. Be sure to share it with your toxic assistant here.”

I raise both middle fingers and watch Shade smirk.

Gabriel nods slowly, his expression thoughtful. “Shade?”

“What?” He turns towards the door, ready to leave, as his face goes blank again.

“Thank you. I really am honored. And congratulations.”

Shade’s shoulders tense up before he nods and leaves, closing the door behind him.

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