Page 168 of Second Sets Omnibus
A shiver of disgust rolls through me, imagining why Van decided to do that and then sharing it with everyone. Was he really that obsessed with me? He was the one who broke it off with me because of his parents. Yet, he kept trophies on his phone like a creep.
“Also, apparently, Kieran’s bitch mom lives right here in town,” I groan, refilling my glass. If I had known that, I would have been more cautious walking around.
Thank God for my bestie’s sober husbands. Or I’d be sleeping on this uncomfortable couch and have a headache in the morning before facing the guys.
Tomorrow is the day. The day I face these assfaces with confidence and determination. It’s up to them now whether they succeed or crash and burn.
Kaycee wrinkles her nose. “I can drain her bank account if you want. Or hack into her FlashGram.” Kaycee shrugs when I snort. “We can set her house on fire. I have connections.” She wiggles her brows playfully until I’m bending at the waist with laughter.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that,” Olivia murmurs into her glass, slightly cringing at the mention of fire but plays it off by laughing at Kaycee’s dedication.
I’ll mention that to her later. Fire makes her uneasy. I don’t blame her though. After what happened when she was a teenager, she’s overcome a lot. But to be locked in a house while bleeding out and then having to fight her way through a blaze?Yeah. It was brutal for her. So, even at the slightest hint of fire, she cowers away. Yet, she’s a badass Veritas agent, fighting the good fight and taking bad guys down without fear.
Trauma is a hell of a thing.
“I’m just saying I can help,” Kaycee says, taking another sip.
“I’ll remember that,” I groan, rubbing at my forehead. “Is this reality?” I murmur, looking at my best friends. “How am I going to survive this?”
“Because you’re a strong, independent woman who don’t need no man!” Olivia shouts, shoving her glass into the air.
“She’s right. You’re you. Strong, sassy, and you don’t take any shit. I could have used you as my bestie in high school,” Kaycee says, blowing out a breath.
“Pfft. You did fine on your own,” Seger says, sauntering into the room with a grin. “When you hacked into that bitch Hadley’s FlashGram, that was a fucking riot.”
Kaycee’s grin lights up her face when she stares at him with dopey eyes. “I guess,” she says with a shrug.
“So, fucking modest, Angel,” Seger coos, kissing the tip of her nose.
“Yuck! Gross!” I playfully say, throwing a couch pillow at Seger’s head.
“Umph,” he grunts, tossing it back with a frown. “Rude.” I grin in return as he grabs a magazine off the table and whacks me in the head.
“Asshole!” I laugh, clutching my head.
“I love ya, Sis. But I think we would have murdered each other back in the day.” He grins, kissing Kaycee one last time before disappearing out the door, humming under his breath. Probably heading upstairs to continue watching Lyric, and the rest of his children–Maggie, Axel, Dash, and Roman.
“Back to this topic,” Olivia chides, tapping on the table. “What the fuck is happening with you right now? Them?”
“Absolutely nothing. I’m their boss. That’s it.” I feel Olivia’s eyes on me as I guzzle more wine and ignore her snort.
“Sure. That’s it.”
“They fucked me over, Liv. Like…so fucking bad. I can’t fall into that trap again.”
As I empty my glass, I finally feel the effects of the wine swimming through my veins. Instead of stopping like I should, I pour another glass, clinging to it like a lifeline.
“You don’t feel anything for them?” Kaycee asks.
“Hate. Disgust. Wanna punch them in the dicks. Does that answer your question?” I ask with my brow rising high.
Liar! I may hate their guts and hope they rot in the desert. But dear God, they’re fine as hell. Hot. Fucking smoking. I’ll never understand why I’m being punished so much with their chiseled rock star looks.
Couldn’t they be, I dunno—less attractive? Mouth-watering, assfaces.
They’re like my damn wine, getting finer with age. I may despise their asses, but I have fucking eyes. I see the way their clothes fit snugly against their bodies, emphasizing their goodies. And I do mean goodies. Asher’s ass alone is biteable…pinchable. I could bounce a quarter off it.
Jesus, what’s wrong with me?
