Page 196 of The Invite
“Gus!” Scarlett knocks again. “Open up! It’s almost midnight.”
“Oh god!” whispers Nessa in a panic.
My fingers are lodged inside her. I give a shallow thrust, wanting to finish making her come. Nessa reads my intention and shakes her head.
With a curse, I pull them out and lick her juices off. It’d be a shame to let it go to waste. Yanking a shirt from the hanger behind her, I tell her, “Wear this and stay here.”
The request tastes sour because I don’t want to hide her. It diminishes what we have, and I hate it.
Kissing her forehead, I walk out to greet my sister, who hasn’t let up her banging. At this rate, I don’t need to teach her to breakinbecause she’s going to breakit.
Grabbing the T-shirt I left discarded on the beanbag, I put it on as I reach the door and swing it open.
Scarlett startles and her fist freezes in midair. It drops, and she storms inside, asking, “What took you so long?”
“I’m getting a little tired of your newfound obsession with interrogating me.”
Whirling around, she runs her gaze down my body as I purposely stay where I am, so her back is to the closet.
“I thought I heard voices.”
I keep my expression neutral. “Do you see anyone else here?”
“Ugh… Never mind.” She switches the topic and smooths a hand down her shorts. “Have you decided what you’re going to post about Kenny?”
“I hardly know the guy,” I mutter, scrubbing a hand along my jaw. “Didn’t even know of his existence until we met him. I had Maverick look into his family. Once he has something, I’ll post it.”
She rocks back on her heels and nods. “Okayyy.”
“What’s going on?” I ask when she says nothing else.
Hesitation sparks in her eyes before she peers at her bare feet.
“Scarlett?” I prompt.
Walking over to my bed, she takes a seat at the edge. “I was thinking maybe we… should play the game.”
“No,” I snap, glaring at the fact that she would even suggest it.
Unperturbed, she stares back at me with a dangerous gleam in her pupils. “Listen to me, Gus. We can let others go ahead with the plan while we post something true. Anonymous will go after them and our secret will remain safe.”
I look at her like she’s lost her mind. “It still leaves you and I. This isn’t a team game where both of us win.”
“But—”
“I said no!” She flinches and her face falls. Softening my voice, I explain, “If we do his bidding, we’ll never be free of him. Today, he wants us to expose a dirty scandal, tomorrow he’ll want us to kill somebody. We are no one’s puppet, Scarlett. That’s what we’ll be if we play his game.”
She takes several heartbeats to acquiesce. “You’re right. I’ll stick to the plan.”
“We’re going to catch him.”
Returning a shaky smile, she struts to me. “I believe you. Thank you for always watching out for me.”
“I’ll always have your back.”
After hugging me, she leaves.
I lock the door behind her and turn in time to see a guarded Nessa step out of my closet. My shirt dwarfs her as she toys with the hem. I crook a finger at her and she bridges the gap.
