Page 44 of Mad As Hell

After stalking off, I’d gone back to my room and taken a nap. I’d been emotionally drained and had wanted nothing more than to crawl into my bed and forget the fucking world.

So I had.

Gary had given me a pass for today, and since it was Friday, I’d planned on hanging out with Bex all weekend and laying low.

But apparently the best way to celebrate your frat president being hauled away by the FBI was with a party.

I mean, honestly, I didn’t have a problem celebrating Dean’s incarcerated status. I might even send him a gift.

Like soap.

On a rope.

A twisted smirk of satisfaction crawled across my lips as I thought about Dean getting back everything he’d dished out over the past few years. Maybe I’d been spending too much time in this cutthroat world, because I couldn’t even dredge up a single scrap of a fuck to give that Dean would be spending the foreseeable future as the bitch he was.

When someone knocked on my door, I crossed my room. Even though I knew it was probably Bex, I still checked the peephole. Once I confirmed it was my only friend in the freaking world, I opened the door.

Bex frowned at me, holding up her phone. “I got your message. What’s the emergency?”

I groaned and let her inside. “Ryan.”

Her lips pinched together in annoyance. “What now?”

“Apparently my presence has been requested at a party tonight,” I deadpanned as I shut the door after Bex and locked it.

“Seriously?”

I passed her my phone so she could read Ryan’s message. Her nose wrinkled when she’d finished. “And you’re going?”

“I don’t want to,” I grumbled, dropping onto the couch and picking at a piece of lint on my yoga pants. Skin-tight yoga pants were as comfortable as my new Gary-approved wardrobe allowed.

“Maybe you can fake the flu?” Bex suggested. A wicked glint stole into her eyes. “Or tell him you’ve got your period? That usually sends guys running.”

My stomach cramped with a memory of when I’d been riding the crimson wave, and Ryan had snuggled me in his arms all freaking night. He was better than pain relievers and heating pads combined.

No, no, no.

I quickly changed my train of thought before wallowing led to more tears. I wasn’t sure how I had anything left at this point.

“So, what’s the plan then?” Bex asked me.

I cut my gaze to hers. “I plan to look as hot as humanly possible to show Ryan exactly what he threw away.” As I spoke the words, the plot forming in my mind sparked life into my chest.

Bex’s hazel eyes glittered. “I’m guessing you won’t be sharing that hotness with him?”

I gave an indifferent shrug. “He can watch all he likes, but I’m moving on. Emotionally, if not physically, anyway.”

Her brows slowly, and not at all subtly, inched higher. “Oh, really?”

My head dropped back, and I stared at the ceiling. “When you say it like that, I get the feeling you don’t believe me.”

“I mean…” She spread her hands wide on her lap. “Am I wrong?”

“No,” I muttered. “I wish I could turn my feelings on and off like a light switch.”

“Yeah,” Bex breathed, “that would be awesome.”

I cast her a long look. “Are you okay? I mean, we didn’t really talk about you and Court and Linc. I know you were getting close to them.”

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