Page 36 of Big Bad Bully
“And now?”
“And now, I guess I’m not above a good cock tease. If he wants between my legs, he’s going to have to work for it.”
Madi lets out an exaggerated, scandalized gasp. “Are you into him?”
“Mmm…” I deliberate.
“You are!” She sounds thrilled.
“Of course not.”
“But?”
I laugh. “You heard a but?”
“I mean, you implied he would be getting between your legs.”
“Okay, I’m a little bit interested,” I admit as I step onto the train and find a handle to hang onto. The train takes off, and my weight falls backward.
“Yeah, I don’t know,” Madi says. “Part of me thinks sex with Billy would be horrible. Like it would be all about him.”
“Why in the fuck are you talking about sex with Billy?” I hear Brick demand in the background, as if he just walked into the room.
Madi laughs. “I’m talking to Aubrey,” she tells him. To me, she says, “But he’s also very good at knowing what people want. That’s what makes him a brilliant strategist. So maybe he’d be a decent lay.”
“You’re going to stop that conjecture right now,” Brick growls, and Madi shrieks, like he just picked her up or tickled her or something.
“Uh oh. Mr. Possessive is getting jealous.” I don’t mean to sound as judgey as it comes out.
Honestly, I’m the one who’s jealous.
Shame tightens my chest. I hate that I resent Brick for stealing Madi’s attention. What am I, twelve years old? I should be able to share my best friend with the man who loves her.
“He knows I don’t want Billy.” Madi’s voice is breathy, and I’m certain she’s talking to Brick not me. They’re probably staring into each other’s eyes about to get naked again, if they aren’t already.
“Okay, I’m gonna let you get on with whatever is about to happen over there.” I try to make my voice lighter this time. “Can’t wait to hang out Thursday night!”
“Me neither!” she sing-songs and ends the call.
I drop into a seat that opens up at the next stop. I’m not sure why I suddenly wish I’d worn something a little more tempting. I’m in my standard first nice day of spring wear–a tight-fitting crop sweater, short-shorts, and Doc Martens on my feet.
But I don’t know what I’d rather be wearing to torture a guy like Billy–certainly not a pair of heels. He’s already attracted to what he’s seen. I don’t need to go changing into something I’m not. But I could push the bounds here.
My imagination starts churning out all the ways I could tempt Billy White.
That’s right, Big Bad Bully.
I’m going to make you sorry you hurt my bestie. Sorry for every uppity judgment you’ve made about young women from working-class families in Jersey.
I’m going to flip your world around and serve it to you backwards, and in the end, we’ll see who is bullying whom.
Billy
I unlatch the door when Grayson, one of our pack security guys, tells me Aubrey’s on her way up. Then I return to my glass breakfast table by the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Central Park reading the Times. She can see herself in. She’s not a guest in my home. She’s here to work.
But I’m sniffing the air in anticipation of her nutmeg and honey scent. Sweetness and spice from the coffee shop where she works. I never thought it would become one of my favorite scents. After my showdown with my father, I’ve been looking forward to seeing her.
My father would fucking hate her. She’s a human and proud of it.
