Perfectly Toxic (Sterling Shore 9)

“She waxes her pussy. A sphynx cat is a hairless kitty. So, yeah. It’s a way to fuck with her,” he says, still laughing, and Rye snickers while shaking his head.

Wren snorts while handing Maverick back his phone, and I struggle not to snatch it back to see what he’s texting her. I’ve officially lost my motherfucking mind.

It’s Star Morgan and high school all over again, even though it’s nothing like that. I barely know Bella, which means I shouldn’t be getting worked up over this. Right?

So why am I still clenching my fists and seconds away from punching one of my friends for no reason?

“Are we going to play poker, or are you going to text your girl all day instead?” I ask, proud that there’s not an ounce of anger in my tone, because that’s really hard to do.

Maverick snickers again before putting his phone down, and he shakes his head. I’m vaguely aware of Wren’s eyes on me, but I don’t acknowledge him, knowing he’ll realize something is up.

“Not my girl. We’re just friends. She’s cool. You’ll meet her soon.”

I calm down just a little.

“So how do you know she waxes?” I ask as Tag starts dealing the cards. “And what’s with the Banana Girl name?”

Yeah, now I’m being obvious, but Mav doesn’t seem to notice.

“Long story,” he says, and the table bursts out into laughter, including Wren.

“I walked in on Bella giving Allie blowjob lessons on a banana,” Wren says through his chuckles, wiping his eyes when tears form. “Angel startled her, and she ended up choking on the banana. Allie had to give her the Heimlich.”

My anger vanishes completely, and I can’t stop myself from laughing. The mental image is arousing and hilarious at the same time, a combination I’ve never dealt with before.

“Oh, there’s so much more to tell,” Maverick goes on, and somehow poker night turns into Bella night.

It’s like she’s everywhere.

Chapter 8

BELLA

I’ve ignored the texts from Ethan for the past three days. But he hasn’t stopped sending them.

ETHAN: That party is tonight. You coming?

ETHAN: You missed my party. I guess you owe me something special to make up for it.

ETHAN: Why does it feel like you’re ignoring me?

ETHAN: Don’t make me find you, Bella. You embarrass too easily…

Ignoring his last warning that came a few minutes ago, I put my phone away before clocking out for the day. I board the elevator, riding up to the children’s ward, and step off the second the doors open.

I haven’t been in the mood to play games with Ethan. Especially since I don’t want to be playing games at all. I want someone serious. Ethan is a frat boy in a man’s body.

Taking a deep breath, all thoughts of Ethan vanish, and I walk into a room where my favorite patient beams up at me. Even though he’s not actually my patient.

“Bella! You came!” Daniel says, smiling as I come to sit beside him on the bed.

“Of course I did.”

At eleven, he’s had to deal with a hell of a lot, and he’s a great kid who always manages to smile, despite the hellish road he’s been on for the past eight months.

“Where’s your mom?” I ask him, looking around the empty room that normally has at least one of his parents in it.

“She’s in the cafeteria getting me some more ice cream,” he says with a smile.