Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 111676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 558(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 558(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
“That she fucking left. I deleted the damn video.” Saying it out loud hurt like a motherfucker. Add to that the fact that she’d left without much of a fight—like she realized I wasn’t worth it—hurt even more. “You should probably leave, too.”
Her eyes narrowed, studying me like I was full of shit. “You deleted the video?”
“That’s what I said. So get out. I’ve had enough of your shit, Cassie.” I moved past her and grabbed the coffee, but I could feel her stare burning a hole in the back of my skull.
“How long ago?”
“A few weeks.” I felt myself tense, expecting a skillet to the head.
“Are you—”
“Turn that shit off, Cass,” Rogue shouted from the hallway. “It’s nine on a Sunday, for Christ’s sake.”
I turned just in time to catch him step into the kitchen and Cassie hurl a batter-covered spatula at him. He ducked seconds before it would have smacked him in the face. “What the—”
“Wolf said he deleted the video! Weeks ago.”
Rogue’s gaze swung to me. “Yeah, but—”
“But nothing. You’ve kept me here for no damn reason! Cleaning your shit. Cooking your stupid food.” She snatched the mixing bowl from the counter and chucked it across the room. Batter splattered the wall, the floor, Rogue. “Fuck you.” Her crazy gaze pinged between Rogue and me. “Both of you!” Her awful music hit a chorus that was all about women’s empowerment right before she shoved past him. “I’m out!”
“Not before you clean the tampons and shit up from your feminist coupe!”
“Fuck off!
Her angry footfalls echoed through the house before his attention turned to me. “Why the hell did you tell her?”
I cut off the shitty music. “Because I’m tired of this shit. That crap at the auction last night. Cops showing up. Aren’t you tired of all the petty shit Cassie’s done yet?” I pointed at his pink shirt. “That. The rats. The laxative, itching powder, putting you in the fucking ER with an allergic reaction—”
“She didn’t know I was allergic to chilies.”
“Give me a break.” He could not be that stupid. “And then Jade…” I swiped a hand over my jaw. Saying her name had a pussy-ass ache forming in my chest. “I just wanted them out of the house. I think they got the point by now.”
Rogue went to open his mouth, but I cut him off.
“Her being here almost fucked up my chance at the NFL. I told you it wasn’t a good idea on day one.”
I snatched the loaf of bread from the counter, then dropped a piece into the toaster, hating myself for jumping back in with her, falling in love with her all over again, like nothing had changed. It had. We had changed. A year and a half ago, Jade never would have dreamed of screwing me over like that. And even if she didn’t intend to use that penguin against me, the fact that the thought was there was enough to have me questioning everything.
“I thought you two were together again?”
“Yeah. Well, hard to be with someone who intends to fuck you over.”
The scent of toasted bread filled the kitchen seconds before it popped up with a clang.
“What are you talking about? We were the ones fucking them over.”
“You never would have turned that video in to the cops. And you know it.” The entire ordeal had been stupid.
Rogue had pretended it was to teach them a lesson. When I knew damn well, the main reason he wanted them here was to hold Cassie captive. The idiot was in love with her and couldn’t see it. At least my stupid ass was well aware of how dumb and naïve my heart was.
Bellamy appeared in the doorway, wiping sleep from his eyes. “What in the hell is going on? Cassie’s up there ranting.” He moved past Rogue and me, grabbing the pot of coffee. “You two are down here shouting.”
Rogue jutted his chin toward me. “Wolf let the girls leave.”
Footfalls thudded down the steps, followed by Cassie shouting something unintelligible before the front door slammed shut.
Bellamy glanced over his shoulder, confusion wrinkling his brow. “Why? Didn’t they have another week?”
“Jade had one of the pinger penguins in her backpack,” I said. As I took in Bellamy’s shocked expression, that sense of betrayal I’d felt last night once again took root in my gut, its ugly tendrils spreading like a disease. “She was going to turn it into the cops.”
Rogue snatched his phone from his pocket, jamming his finger over the screen before storming to the back door. “I swear to God, Cassie. I’m going to—”
The door slammed closed, and I took my coffee and toast to the table.
Bellamy sat across from me, but I didn’t look up. “I don’t think Jade would have actually turned it in.”
Maybe she wouldn’t have. That was what she’d said last night, but the fact that she still had it in her bag, when we were supposed to be together… “Doesn’t matter. Hendrix was probably right about the Medusa bullshit.”