Perfectly Toxic (Sterling Shore 9)

She seems disgruntled with my vague answer, but Dane calls to her, motioning her over with his head before she can press for more. When my eyes move back toward Wren, they linger over Allie, because she’s giggling at her phone.

“What’s so funny?” Wren asks as Angel climbs down from his lap and races after Carrie, who is waving dramatically at her to follow.

“Just Bella’s unfortunate autocorrect hell continuing. She really needs to get a new phone. She keeps turning off the autocorrect option, but it’s like her phone is haunted and turns it back on itself.”

It takes a second for that to register, but when it does, it’s like a slap to the face. How the ever-fucking-hell can that be? Surely there are not two Bellas? No. Too coincidental with the autocorrect thing.

I’d remember if Wren had mentioned her… Ah fuck that. I forgot Carrie’s damn name, and struggled to remember Wren’s daughter’s name.

“Bella?” I ask, unable to help myself.

Wren is laughing as he finishes looking at the phone, and I try not to act annoyed that I can’t see what is so amusing to them.

“Yeah,” he drawls. “Allie’s best friend. I told you about her.”

As if that matters. He, like all the others, assumed I was running a business the Sterling way or his way. No such luck. I was involved in all the decision making, all the details, and all the meetings. I was usually doing fifteen other things when they called to talk, so retaining any other information was a hassle.

“Remind me,” I say casually, acting as though I’m only mildly interested instead of a little overly obsessed.

I still have no clue why I can’t let this thing go.

“She moved here just before Allie, and she works at the hospital. Why?” he eyes me suspiciously, and I shrug.

Definitely the same Bella, considering the hospital remark. Judging by his gaze, he doesn’t like me asking about her. He certainly wouldn’t want me fucking with her head the way I am if she’s Allie’s friend.

“Just curious. Everything in the group is changing, so I’m just trying to keep up. Corbin is engaged, Dane and Rain are married, Rye and Brin are playing house, and Kade is also getting married. Lots of new names and new shit going on. Oh, and Kode and Tria? Seriously? How does something like that happen? Tag has a kid and another one on the way. You have a kid in school that you didn’t have a year ago. Maverick and Dale are all I have left.”

I sigh dramatically, and he grunts while shaking his head as Allie walks over to talk to Ash—Tag’s wife.

I feel like an outsider looking in, as though I was never really a part of this group.

“Shit changes, man. But you’re here now, so you can finally keep up with the rest of us.”

He claps me on the shoulder, and I lean back, deciding to focus on something that isn’t annoying me.

“So this Bella chick—”

“Don’t even think about going there,” he interrupts, giving me a pointed stare.

I hold my hands up in surrender, palms out like I’m innocent. “Just asking, dude. Not like that,” I tell him, only partially lying. I honestly have no idea what I’ll do with her if she lets me catch her, but I have to know if it was a fluke. Getting her to touch me again is on the top of list of things to do. “I was just asking what she is to the group,” I go on.

He relaxes as he rolls his eyes.

“Sorry. I’m on edge. Until I get a wedding ring on Allie’s finger, I’m a little paranoid that anything could go wrong. And you pissing off her best friend wouldn’t be in my best interest.”

“Allie would never leave you for something like that,” I say, sitting back.

“Logically I know that. But I’m just il

logical enough not to risk it.”

“No worries,” I tell him honestly. I’ll just leave Bella alone if it’s this important to him, even though it’s completely unrealistic that it could somehow influence Allie’s opinion of Wren.

“I don’t know why I’m worried. You’re not her type, and she’s pretty adamant about staying away from guys like you.”

“Guys like me?” I ask, trying not to let his insult take root. Wren’s one of my best friends, so knowing he thinks so fucking little—

“Tattoos, piercings, cocky… That sort of thing,” he says with a shrug, and I calm down immediately. Apparently I’m not myself if my feathers got ruffled over that stupid shit.