Page 113 of Insatiable

“What? No I don’t.”

I can see right through her lie, but that’s okay. Luciella has always been like this. Her family has a bad name, but she’s made it her life’s mission to be a good person, to not step out of line or get into any sort of trouble.

Including staying away from Sebastian Prince.

Once we tidy up the room and get dressed, Lu goes to see her mum while Ty paints my nails.

“You’re seeing Dez again,” I throw out quietly. “I’m happy for you.”

She blushes. “Please don’t say anything. I’ll tell Lu, but I like being in our bubble where it’s just us two. She’ll get mad and try to make me split up with him, and I’m not ready to even consider that.”

“I get it.” I watch her stroking the brush on each nail. “Don’t break up with him. Promise?”

“I promise.” She smiles, painting my thumbnail. “I tried to stay away from Dez, but I felt so lost without him, Stacey.” She caps the nail polish, blowing on my nails. “I’ll tell Lu soon.”

“If you don’t want to be caught before then, maybe try to be a little more discreet,” I say with a giggle. “He had his hand on your ass at the bar next to the pool and then kissed your cheek.”

“Lu was too busy arguing with Base in the pool to notice.”

I snort. “That’s true. Those two have been bickering this entire trip.”

“What about you and Kade?”

I glance up at her. “What?”

She gives me a knowing look before she stands and examines her work. “You suit dark nail polish,” she says, changing the subject. “Matches your soul.”

“What did you mean about me and—”

“She suits that colour, right, Lu?”

Luciella’s back, staring into the mirror and swiping red lipstick on her lips. “As dark as her cold heart.”

“Fuck you both.”

“Base and Dez are coming out with us tonight and I amnothappy.”

Tylar smirks as she looks away, and I try not to giggle. She has no idea how much Base has got under her skin.

I pull on my jeans and top, looking at my phone as it dings.

Kade: Are you going out tonight withLuciellaandTylar?

I peer up at my friends, both now fixing their hair and make-up in the mirror as I type back, my pulse thrashing in my ears.

Me: Why? Does your girlfriend not want to hang out with you anymore?

As soon as I hit send, I regret the petty, jealous and downright childish reply. Why can’t I just ignore him and get on with my holiday?

“Okay. Let’s go!” Lu exclaims, a smile plastered to her face, and when she opens the door, Base and Dez are leaning against the wall, both dressed immaculately. The former looks Lu up and down with a smile that lights up his entire being as she groans and shoulders past him.

She glances at us. “And that leaves tomorrow night to have some girl time before we head back to Scotland. Away from these assholes.”

She definitely said that so he’d hear.

“Sounds like love to me,” Base mutters, and she elbows him in the side.

While I’m in the Uber, I feel my phone vibrate, but I ignore it. In the bar, it burns in my palm, and I itch to read the messages I’m sure are from Kade, but I refrain.

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