Page 6 of Tainted Rose

She gets really close, looking into my eyes. “She’s no good for you.” Before I comprehend what she’s doing, she puts her lips on my neck.

Click.

“Stop.” I push her away with a frown, then let out a deep sigh. “Actually, I need to ask you to do something with those photos.” My inebriated state makes it hard to formulate in my head what to say.

She gives me a wicked grin. “What?”

I tug her close so I can whisper in her ear. “I need you to make sure you post those. I need it to look like we’re together.”

She edges back and quirks her brow at me. “Really? The photos I just took?” She hesitates, searching my face. “What did you do, Xander?”

Pushing thoughts around in my sloshing brain, I demand quietly, “Please do it. Trust me. Don’t ask me again.”

“Hey, Xander, what’s going on, man?” Micah plucks Aria up by the waist, and she squeals as he deposits her on the far end of the couch. She scowls and gives him a little slap to the arm before she stands and slides a private wink in my direction, mouthing I’m on it. She stomps off for Micah’s benefit, exiting the house to the patio.

“When are you going to cut her off once and for good?”

I give a noncommittal shrug. “She’s like my sister.”

He runs his hands over his long thighs. “Even more reason to cut the cord. Where’s my favorite ice cream girl?”

I wince. “Home?” It comes out like a question. Fuck. I don’t know how I can possibly make anyone understand why I pushed her away.

He frowns before he snags the bottle of tequila right out of my hands and takes a long swallow. Handing it back, he nods. “You fucked it up already?”

My hand rubs over my face. “You might hear some stuff. I was an asshole. Can you just—” A defeated sigh has my shoulders sagging even more.

His eyes narrow on me. “Just what?”

I let out a long, agitated breath. “Would you do me a favor?”

“Anything, man. You know that.” His eyes search mine for an answer as to why I’m acting like this. I can tell I have his attention.

I lower my voice. “Look out for Scarlett for me, would you? No matter what I say or do.”

His brows raise, and he angles himself toward me, propping his arm up on the back of the couch.

I know he’s waiting for me to say more but I shouldn’t. “Please trust me.” I tilt the bottle up and suck down more tequila.

He sighs deeply, then holds out his fist.

I knew I could count on him. He’s been more like a brother than a friend for years now.

I bump it back. “Thanks. I’m going to go crash in one of your spare bedrooms, if that’s okay. I’m not up for all of this tonight.” I wave my arm toward the bumping and grinding happening in front of us.

“Fuck, man. Yeah. Go ahead.”

I stand, swaying on my feet.

From behind me, Micah quietly asks, “I don’t want to know, do I?”

“No man. You really, really don’t.” I don’t know if he can read the pain in my eyes but I hope he can sense it. When word gets around about what I’ve done, I hope he remembers exactly what he’s seen tonight.

I wander toward the front of the house and march myself up the stairs. It takes me a minute or so to find an empty bedroom. When I finally locate one that doesn’t have two or more people in various stages of undress, I close the door behind me, yank off my T-shirt, and collapse onto the bed. All I can see when I close my eyes is Scarlett’s face as I kicked her to the curb. Her anguish and confusion haunt my dreams.

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