Page 215 of Boys Who Taint

“And you? You pretended to be my stalker for the fun of it?”

I scratch the back of my neck. “I thought you invited me to have a fun chase. It didn’t mean anything.”

“You knew what it meant to me.” She shoves me out of the way and waltzes off.

“Oh, c’mon now, Freckles,” I say, trying to reason with her. “You know I’m a lusty motherfucker when it comes to you.”

“Where did Levi go?” She looks around. “I don’t see him anywhere.”

“I heard his motorcycle. He’s probably trying to get far away from here.”

“After the bomb he just dropped on her?” Grey mutters.

“Can you blame him?” I scoff. “The girl he’s been in love with for over half a decade wants him dead.”

Aspen locks eyes with me, and the shock riddling her expression doesn’t go unnoticed.

“Oh, did I say something I wasn’t supposed to say?” I shrug. “Oops.”

“That’s not,” she mutters, struggling to stand on two feet. “I need to talk to him.”

“I don’t think that’s going to happen,” I say.

“What do you mean?” Before I can answer, she slaps her hand in front of her mouth.

“What’s happening?” Grey asks.

“Her stalker made her a deal. They fuck … he kills Levi,” I explain.

“So he lied all this time,” Grey says.

“No,” Aspen mutters, her eyes growing bigger. Suddenly, she grabs her bag and snatches the knives away from us. “Stay here. Don’t fucking follow me.”

“Why?” I ask.

“Because I need time to think. On my own,” she responds. “And I can’t deal with you two right now.”

“Aspen!” Grey yells as she runs off.

I grab a cigarette and try several times to light it up while the rain keeps trying to put it out. Damn. This is the second cig I’vehad in years. This girl is turning me into a chain-smoker, but fuck it, she’s worth it.

“Let her go,” I say.

“Why in God’s name would that be a good idea?” Grey retorts.

“Because she needs time,” I reply. “Remember?”

“But she hates me,” he says, his fingers in his hair.

“She hates all of us right now. It’ll be fine.” I take another drag.

“Why would you even say that?” he growls, stepping closer. “How can you be so relaxed?”

I offer him my cigarette. “You should try it. Takes the edge off things.”

He snatches it from my hand and takes a drag, then coughs like hell, and I laugh. “Atta boy.”

“Fuck. This is relaxing to you?”

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