Page 25 of The Tangle of Awful

Tasha studies her for a beat before glancing my way. Then, she turns her attention back to Aubrey. “It’s okay if you don’t feel safe talking right now. We can have brunch and—”

“She’s plenty safe here,” I spit out. “Much safer than with her daddy.”

Aubrey’s flinch is slight. I like knowing what I know about her and her father’s fight. Of course she doesn’t know I know the details and that makes it much more sweeter. Making her squirm will be fun.

“Mom’s just going through some stuff,” Aubrey says, her voice light despite the heavy lie on her tongue. “Not much for anyone’s company. Been spending a lot of time with her yoga instructor.”

“Sawyer says he hasn’t seen her in forever,” Tasha accuses, voice rising several octaves. “What the hell is going on around here?”

Aubrey shakes her head. “Sawyer and her parted ways a while back. Did he not tell you?”

For the first time since her arrival, Tasha deflates. It’s one thing to not believe me, but it’s obviously more difficult for her not to believe her precious “niece.”

“Sawyer talks a lot,” Tasha says with a dismissive wave. “Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with him.”

Aubrey seems to relax at her words, shoulders losing their tension. “I can tell her you stopped by.”

“And called,” Tasha clips out, venom finding its way back into her tone. “Over and over and over again. Sure, we go spells without speaking, especially when me and Harold are traveling in Europe, but never this long.”

“Maybe she’s still mad at you,” Aubrey says, fake wincing. “You know how Mom can be.”

“I suppose we do go through our spats from time to time,” Tasha allows, smoothing out the nonexistent wrinkles of her skirt. “We’re practically sisters, you know.”

Aubrey grins at her. “I know. That’s why we love you. Maybe I can grab brunch with you another day here soon? It looks like I’ll be staying awhile.”

Satisfied by that, Tasha nods. “Of course, sweetie. We’ll keep in touch.”

They hug and then Tasha stalks out of the house without another word to me. Bye, bitch.

Aubrey closes the door behind her, resting against it. Her brows are furled as she chews on her bottom lip. She’s hot as fuck with her messy hair and rumpled sleep clothes. I’m unable to stop myself from prowling over to her and crowding her against the door.

“Why?” I rumble, voice low and deadly. “Why would you lie for me?”

She goes to shove me away, but I’m unmovable. “For you? I’ve got nothing for you, Spencer. You’re a monster.”

My grin is wide and threatening. “You’re just mad at a little horseplay in the pool, leech? Thought you were tougher than that. Besides, it was payback for fucking up my car.”

Her chin lifts and she glowers at me. “Touch me again and I’ll castrate you in your sleep.”

If only she had the balls to even attempt such a thing.

“And for what it’s worth,” she says, voice dripping with contempt, “I wasn’t protecting you. I was protecting Hugo.”

I slam a palm against the door beside her, but to her credit, she doesn’t flinch. “What’s your end game, hmm? Going to try and fuck him like you fucked every man in LA?”

“Go to hell,” she growls. “You don’t know a thing about me.”

Stepping back, I flash her a knowing grin. “I know you have a thing for older men. A very problematic ‘thing’ for them. Don’t think I won’t protect my father against people like you.”

“People like me?” She glowers at me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Gold-digging whores.”

She slaps me hard on the cheek. “Fuck off, Spencer.”

I allow her to storm off…this time.

Hugo

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