Page 45 of Lilies in Autumn

“Guys, but what happens if I get another text? W-what if they post that picture?” Beads of sweat form on my brow, and any levity I had from talking to my sister and memories of Grey’s tattooed chest, vanish.

“Aves, it’s been three weeks. There hasn’t been a single message in all that time. I know you’re freaked out. I understand you’re scared, but you cannot live your life shrouded in fear over a potential calamity.” CeCe reaches across the table and grabs my hand, pushing my mug of coffee away from me. Squeezing my hand, she continues, “You know that I would never willingly encourage you to jump into danger, but you like him. He’s borderline, creepily obsessed with you. Are you going to let some faceless, nameless, dickface dictate your life?”

“Yes, I was planning to do that.”

Her eyes roll with such force, I wouldn’t be surprised if they got stuck like that. “The worst that could happen is your hot, sensual body is distributed to the masses. So what? Kim Kardashian made an entire career after her sex tape. Her dad was a lawyer, too.”

Serena places a hand on CeCe’s arm, pulling her away from me. “CeCe, I don’t think that’s helping here.”

“I’m going to pretend that you didn’t just say that. And it’s not just that my parents will kill me, but my privacy was violated, Celeste. I can’t just wipe it under the rug and say, ‘Well, I look good in the picture, so it’s okay.’” I shake my head, my annoyance growing. “It’s not enough that they called me horrible things, that they made me doubt Grey’s interest, but then they had to take a picture of my naked body while getting eaten out.” My voice breaks and I swallow back the lump forming in my throat. “They fucking took that from me, from us, and made it a joke. I can’t get over that and don’t you fucking ask me to.” My emotions are all over the place, and I want to vomit, punch something, and cry all at the same time.

Grabbing my coffee with shaking hands, I bring it to my mouth, inhaling deeply before swallowing a lukewarm sip.

“Aves, I’m sorry. I’m just trying to lighten the mood. But if you’re serious about not being with Greyson in public, then this is an opportunity to show you’re not together.”

“I’ve been talking to that man every day, multiple times a day, for the last three weeks. He is possessive as fuck and the most alpha asshole I know, in a good way, but still. Do you honestly think he’ll leave me alone if we’re in the same space?” The question may as well be rhetorical because I know with absolute certainty that he will not.

“Ava, he’s not a werewolf that recognized you as his fated mate, as hot as that is.” This time, it’s me rolling my eyes at CeCe’s comment.

“Hey!” She smacks the table to get my attention. “I’m being serious. He’s not feral, just speak to him before and let him know to stay away, even if he doesn’t want to.”

“Can we stop talking about this? My anxiety has anxiety at this point.”

Serena offers me a small smile. “Of course, Ava.”

We sit in silence for a few minutes, absorbing the shit show that will be this weekend. I sip my cooled coffee, wishing that it would settle my nerves.

“Oh, you have to be fucking kidding me,” CeCe spits out, eyes on the door. Turning in the booth, I see Felicity and Jordan walk in like they’re in the middle of a photoshoot in Antarctica.

The weather is unseasonably warm, almost seventy degrees at the end of September. Looking at Felicity and Jordan, however, you would think they’re snow bunnies in a lingerie campaign in the Alps. In mini slip dresses with faux fur puffer jackets on top, both have furry boots, plain baseball caps, and monogrammed designer bags. While Jordan is in black, literally from head to toe, Felicity is in a beige so light, it looks like she’s not wearing anything under the fur jacket.

“I would never want someone to judge me, truly and honestly, and I say this with all the respect in the world, but what are they wearing?” Serena whispers, her face a cross between horror and awe.

“Fuck them. They don’t deserve our respect. They’re fucking blackmailers,” CeCe seethes.

“C, we don’t know that it’s them for sure.”

“Yes, we fucking do. Who else could it possibly be?”

“A million other people, C. I won’t go on a witch hunt just because I suspect them to be behind it.”

“Your passivity is pissing me off. You’re content to just lie on your back and take this bullshit, yet you’re mad at the prospect of seeing Grey. You just told us you would rather try to party at another college over an hour from here because of this shit. Grow a set of tits and face this.” CeCe gets up and crosses the room until she’s standing directly in front of the Bobbsey twins.

Celeste Lauren Downing has bigger balls than most of the men I know.

“Are you aware that it’s seventy-five degrees outside? You look like idiots.”

Felicity’s sneer twists the features of her pretty face, reflecting the ugly personality she keeps hidden. “Listen, freshman, I don’t know what hole you crawled out of, but we came in here for our iced lattes and didn’t do shit to you. If you ever want to join a sorority on this campus, I suggest you turn around and walk your skinny ass far, far away from us.”

“I could give two shits about joining a sorority if the other girls—sorry, women—are anything like you.”

Felicity gasps like she’s been hit. Her hand flies up to her chest like her heart is about to burst from the insult.

“How dare you.”

“No, how dare you. You made enemies out of the wrong people, little girl. You see, I know people, and more importantly, I know how to dispose of a body. Leave me and mine alone, and we won’t have any problems. Is that understood?”

Felicity’s face contorts, continuing to morph into such a pinched expression, I wouldn’t recognize her if I didn’t witness the change. The entire coffee shop is staring at them, enjoying the show CeCe freely put on display. Suddenly, Felicity’s face smooths, and her perfect, porcelain mask returns.

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