Page 172 of Mad Love

Bristol eyed me with contempt. “Who the fuck is this cheap whore?”

“Someone who means a shitload more than you,” Linc snarled, pushing off the wall. It was scary how fast he went from docile and amused to furious and vengeful. “Now take your fake tits and your plastic ass and get the fuck out.”

A nervous laugh tittered out of her. “I’ll just go find my husband—”

“I’ll let him know we kicked your ass out for being a cunt.” Linc flicked a finger. “Go.”

With an indignant squeak, she stomped away.

Linc leaned against the wall, a lazy smile suddenly spreading on his face. “Maddie!”

I closed the distance between us and nearly recoiled from the smell. “You're drunk.”

“I prefer the term wasted, but sure. We’ll go with drunk.” His navy eyes were glassy as he watched me.

“Linc.” I softened my tone. “I know you’re missing Grandpa, too, but this isn’t—”

He waved a hand, nearly hitting me. “Ah, it’s fine. It’s a party, right?”

“It’s a wake,” I corrected, wondering if I should get help.

“Wonder why they call it that,” he mumbled, shaking his head. “Maybe ‘cause we’re all awake and he’s not?”

I sighed and tried again. “Linc—”

“I’m not sure if I should thank you or give you shit for the cockblock, Mads,” he slurred. “She had that trophy wife look.”

“Meaning?”

He tapped his temple. “They give the best head. They spend years perfecting the art of the blow job to land the biggest whale, babe.”

“That’s disgusting.” I made a face.

“That’s fact,” he countered with a heavy sigh. “But whatever. I’ll go get a drink and find another person to play with.”

I blocked him when he went to pass me. “Linc, this isn’t you. What’s going on?”

He stared at me from where he towered over me by several inches. “Nothing. You should go be with Ry. He needs you.”

I moved again to cut him off. “And you’re my friend. What’s going on?”

He rolled his eyes. “Look, Maddie, just…”

Raising my brows, I waited for him to finish.

“Just leave me alone, okay?” He shook his head, and this time when I tried to block him, he physically picked me up and moved me to the side, carefully setting me on my feet. I went to chase after him, but he turned away from the party and went toward the back of the house.

What the hell was that about?

I was debating whether or not to go after him or find one of the guys when it sounded like all hell broke loose in the other room. I rushed back to the party as a woman screeched at the top of her lungs.

Something furry rushed past me, zipping deeper into the crowded room.

“It’s a rat!” The woman wailed, clutching at the nearest man.

Okay, she was an idiot, because it was clearly one of the puppies.

I spun to see another puppy run by, and then I spotted Cori running into the room with tears in her eyes.

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