Page 41 of Stuck with my Frenemy
“No.” My shout scared even me. Cherry inched away, too. “I did not sign up for any fucking mates, you hear me? The Fates can go fuck themselves if they think I’ll be okay with being manipulated like that. First, I have no control on how I feel about a man, and what’s next? They’ll tell me what to do, what to say, and how to say it?” Panting from the tantrum, I struggled to fill my lungs. “Hell to the fucking no. I refuse to be a pawn for those three bitches so they can entertain themselves.”
“I agree.” She pursed her lips.
“I don’t care if you want to jump both of them and have an—wait, what?”
“I agree,” she repeated, saluting me with her wine and taking a sip.
“They are human, Cherry.” For some reason, I felt the need to convince her more while I kept a tight leash on my panic. “When have you ever heard of a human being a mate to any of the gods or demigods.”
“Well, there was that one time when—”
“Don’t say it.” My hand slapped over her mouth to shut her up. My body was in full panic mode, shivers and all. “There is no human mate for any demigod.” My gaze locked on hers until she nodded warily.
Only then did I remove my hand and step back.
“Anyhoooo, you need to chill a little, girl.” Her nervous giggle made my chest clench. I didn’t want to scare her; I just really didn’t even want to think about the whole mate insanity. “Let’s just wait until Karma comes and we can ask her.”
“That’s a horrible idea. Listen to me Cherry, when she comes, we just give her the damn hammer and let her leave. Understood?”
“Don’t you worry about a thing, Ebs. I got your back.” She patted my shoulder awkwardly. “You just stand there and look menacing. I’ll do all the talking. I’ll ask her.”
“You’ll do no such thing or I will kill you in front of her like a virgin sacrifice. I swear it.” My threats were futile, which I could tell by the way her gloss-covered lip pouted. “You’re coming with me to check on Loki. Go get a jacket or you’ll freeze on the bike.”
With a squeal, she darted inside the house and left me frowning at the open front door. She hated the motorcycle, so her behavior made my head spin. I justified dragging her with me because I didn’t trust she wouldn’t cause big problems if left unsupervised and didn’t focus on the fact that I kind of liked having her around. Nonsense and obnoxious attitude aside. Maybe that was one of her powers. She flaunted her crazy hard enough that it made you want to do anything you could to protect her. The girl had not one self-preservation instinct in her body, so naturally, as a predator, I felt obligated to protect the weak.
That’s what you’re going with Ebony? Really? You are becoming a pro at lying to yourself. Not like you actually like Aphrodite’s daughter and started thinking of her as an actual friend.The voice drawling in my head sounded an awful lot like Loki’s, and it pissed me off.
All the questions about why Cherry was excited got answered when she dashed out of the house and locked the door with a well-practiced flick of her wrist. Arm raised, she dangled a set of keys at me, grinning like a fool. My eyes narrowed at her excitements while she bounced on the balls of her feet. The fates only knew how she managed to do it in high heels. She made it look easy, too, while I would bet my magic I’d break my neck if I attempted to walk in them.
“What are those?” It was a sad day when I sounded wary while talking to Rainbow Disaster.
“This time, I’m driving,” Cherry announced and, taking me under the arm, she dragged me down the few steps and around the house. “Ta-da.” Her hand waved with flourish.
I eyed the yellow car that looked more round than like an actual vehicle.
“What is it?” My question earned me an elbow to the side. Cherry might be useless in a fight, but the woman was all bones and pointy elbows as sharp as daggers.
“It’s a Beetle.” Sounding proud, she puffed her chest. “Come, you have to see this. It came with a little vase and a flower.” Vibrating from happiness, she dragged me to the yellow monstrosity. “A daisy, Ebs. Can you believe it?”
“Oh, I believe it alright.” My muttering was lost because she yanked the door open and shoved me inside, bumping my head in the process. “Maybe we should take the hammer with us,” I told the door, because it was already closed in my face trapping me in the hideous car.
“This will be great.” Cherry giggled gleefully as she slid in the driver’s seat and petted the steering wheel like it was her lover. “I am a productive member of this team. Cherry-San to the rescue. Off to the casino we go.”
Arms crossed over my chest, I glared out the windshield while she fiddled with the keys and started the car. My body jolted, and my ass left the seat when music blared through the speakers loud enough to deafen us. She didn’t lower the volume, either, but proceeded to squeal the lyrics of the songs, bobbing her head and wiggling her shoulders. I ground my molars when she went for some high notes but kept my mouth shut. If Cherry could conquer her fear of motorcycles and handle taking a ride with me, I’d survive this torture.
That was what I thought anyway.
She drove no more than thirty miles an hour the entire way, having a one-woman concert, and I was trapped with her for the entire thing. With a headache blooming behind my eyes and pounding at my temples, I stayed locked on my thoughts. Loki better pray he was no longer at that casino. The whole shit with the hammer and the bomb he dropped about mates would be like an ant kicking at an elephant after I suffered Cherry’s singing.
If the god of mischief was still present.
Karma herself wouldn’t be able to save him when I got my hands on him.
Unless Cherry is in danger,that dumb voice chirped.
“I don’t give a fuck,” I spat, and a still-singing Cherry just grinned at me.
I almost convinced myself that it was true.
