Page 46 of Faux Real
“What did you want to talk to her about? Huh?” Corrine screams. “Tell me, Sawyer! What is it?”
“I can’t believe you went through my phone,” Sawyer states, his tone stern as he chases Corrine down the grassy path. “You had no right to do that!”
“Uh oh,” I say quietly, scooting closer to Oliver. “Do they know we’re here?”
“I don’t think so,” Ollie whispers, focusing his eyes on the spatting duo.
“Give me back my phone, Corrine!” Sawyer begs, his tone softer. He’s trying to control his temper. He’s good at that. He doesn’t yell often. Or he didn’t.
“No, fuck you!” Corrine spits, her body vibrating in the distance. “Do you talk to her all the time? Do you delete messages? Tell me or I’m throwing your fucking phone into the pool!”
“I already told you, baby!” Sawyer exclaims. “I was just making sure she was okay!”
Oliver lets out a laugh, clearly entertained by this shit-show. “Shut up!” I hiss, elbowing him but it’s too late. Sawyer and Corrine whip their heads in our direction. “Damn it, Ollie!”
“Will you relax?” Oliver says with a soft chuckle as Corrine stomps toward us, her steps sloppy, uncoordinated. Oh God, she’s wasted.
“You!” Corrine seethes as Sawyer catches up to her, his eyes alarmingly apologetic. “You fucking little whore!”
I still, my eyes widening. “I’m sorry,what?” I ask. Isshereally callingmea whore? Oliver tenses beside me before lifting me to my feet so that we’re on an even playing ground. Smart move. “What did you just call me?”
“A whore!” Corrine yells, casting her livid gaze on Oliver. “Your girlfriend here is a cheater!”
A cheater? What the fuck?
Oliver scoffs, putting a protective arm around my waist. At least he doesn’t believe her. Or he just doesn’t care. “Is she now?”
“Corrine, just stop,” Sawyer pleads, putting his palm to his forehead. “This has nothing to do with KC, okay? Leave her out of this.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask, flapping my arms. “Someone explain to me what the fuck is happening.”
“This!” Corrine holds out Sawyer’s phone, several text messages on the screen. To me.
Sawyer: How r u feelin?
Sawyer: R u ok?
Sawyer: KC????
Sawyer: We should talk soon. Call me this weekend.
“So I’m a whore becauseyourboyfriend sentmetexts?” I blink, reading the time and date of the messages. They’re from earlier tonight. What? I bend over and grab my phone out of my purse and show her my screen. “Messages I didn’t even read?Seriously?”
“Corrine please,” Sawyer sighs, embarrassment flashing in his eyes. Why did he message me? What does he want to talk about? I don’t understand. “Let’s just go and talk. Leave KC alone—” His eyes harden as he looks at Oliver. “She’s clearlybusy.”
“How do I know you haven’t been texting this whole time?” Corrine asks, her voice slurring.
“For fuck’s sake, Corrine,” Sawyer sighs. “I was checking in on her. She’s never done edibles before. I was making sure she was okay.”
“Bullshit! We all know Kenny’s not over you! She’d do anything to break us up! She probably ate those cookies on purpose knowing you would get all worried and shit.”
“What?” I laugh, astonished that she thinks I could be that conniving but also kind of pleased that she thinks I have it in me.
“She’s a fucking snake!” Corrine continues, stalking toward Ollie. “How does it feel dating a cold-blooded reptile?”
Since she’s drunk her words seem to have a weaker effect on me, but I can’t help but feel a spasm of pain in my stomach. A snake? Me? What is she basing this off of? I’ve never done anything to her, ever! She was the one who fucked me over. She was the one who dropped me. And I’m the snake?
“Stop talking,” Oliver says flatly. “You’re drunk and acting like a complete idiot. Go home before you make a joke out of yourself.”
