Page 128 of Did They Break You

Cortland

What are you doing?

I bite the inside of my cheek and think about ignoring it, like I’ve done all his other ones. He can keep Maya, letting her suck him off in front of Storm and they can be one big, open family.

I don’t want any part of that, do I?

Then I think of Storm’s eyes on me on the couch.

“You like him looking at you?”

My face flushes hot, but my heart… my heart hurts.

None of your fucking business.

Before I can tuck my phone in my studded black bra, he’s already typing.

And since I’m staring at my screen, I might as well wait for his reply, right?

I hear loud laughter down the hall from the living room of the cabin, music thudding loudly, too. “Crimes”by Picturesque.

I happen to love that song, and Van knows it.

I smile to myself, then Cortland’s text comes through.

Cortland

Really that upset about my dick in Maya’s mouth, baby?

I almost break my manicured black nails as I squeeze my phone so hard, pressing the tips against the screen. But I just did them on campus last night with Sloane—after the MacBook,Ipaid for both of us—the first time in… over a year. I had to keep my sleeves down, careful not to let my manicurist see my new hobby.

Just as I take a breath, ready to tell him to go fuck himself and block him while I do, another text comes through.

Cortland

Nothing actually happened, and it was before we agreed not to fuck with other people. It didn’t mean shit. It doesn’t mean shit, and I don’t want you to do something stupid because you’re mad at me. I already saved you once, Remi.

I blink at my screen, propping my hip on the counter of the bathroom as I face the door, trying to think. I’ve had about two of Ryann’s speciality drinks, and I meant what I told Sloane. I’m not drunk.

But seeing those words from Cortland, protective, more like the person I used to know, it does something to me.

You feeling guilty, Cortland?

His reply is instantaneous.

Cortland

Always, pretty baby.

My heart skips a beat. It’s as close to an admission of him actually fucking me over that I’ve ever gotten. I don’t know how to feel about it.

Define “something stupid.”

If he wants to play games, I can, too. Van has some hot friends, and now that Cortland’s fingered me in a graveyard and went down on me in the library, I’m feeling a little braver.

Besides, you don’t turn twenty every day.

Cortland

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