Page 52 of Wild Eyes
The humor of her repeating this back to me pokes a little hole in my indulgent, blanketed anger. I’m forced to suck in a breath to cover my surging manic laughter.
I spin on her and point. “Yes, Cherry. Fuck everyone. And fuck Coach Thick Thighs for throwing my phone in the lake.”
“Fuck Coach Thick Thighs!” she squawks back.
I grit my teeth, not ready to stop seeing red, but also feeling my paralyzing level of anxiety recede. Who’d have thought a foul-mouthed parrot would become my emotional support animal? I may not have much, but at least I’ve got her.
I’m staring at her, still getting my breathing back under control, rubbing firm circles on my chest, when it happens.
Tiny, poky steps on my skin. I don’t lose it right away—my synapses aren’t firing at full capacity. Instead, I drop my chin, not immediately processing what I see.
It takes a few seconds.
Then I realize there is a small gray mouse making its way across the bare bridges of my feet.
And I scream.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
WEST
I callFord as soon as I jump out of my truck. He answers on the third ring as I stroll down toward the bunkhouse.
“Hello?”
“Hey, can you send me Skylar’s email?”
Ford’s gruff voice filters back through my receiver. “Why? Doesn’t she live within spitting distance of you? Ask her yourself.”
“I want it to be a surprise.”
“This may come as a shock to you, but women don’t actually like surprise dick pics.”
“Get outta here. I have never sent a dick pic in my life.”
He says nothing. But I can imagine the disbelieving scowl on Ford’s face.
“Okay, fine. I have never sent anunsoliciteddick pic in my life. It’s not my fault people are constantly asking for them.”
My best friend groans. “Jesus?—”
But I stop listening partway through his response because I’m about halfway through the stand of pines when a scream pierces the soft night air. I freeze and take a quick inventory of what’s around me.
“Just send the email,” I bark before hanging up.
The scream stops.
But then it starts again.
It’s coming from the bunkhouse, and I break into a sprint down the gentle slope toward Skylar.
I was on my way to apologize to her because I shouldn’t have thrown her phone in the water. It was impulsive—something I’d have done as a teenager.
This is a girl who’s used to having security and assistants with her, and I’ve left her without a way to call for help. Now she’s screaming like a masked murderer has her cornered in the bunkhouse.
What the fuck was I thinking?My stomach swoops and feels like it falls right out of my body as my feet thump across the grass.
I blast through the door and come to a screeching halt.
