Perfectly Toxic (Sterling Shore 9)

Britt—sweet, loveable, honest, genuine Britt—is being used, mocked, and laughed at by people she thinks are friends.

Deciding I can’t stomach listening to this and not do anything about it, I stand, and so does Ethan. My milkshake is almost gone, but his is still pretty full.

“You finished with that?” I ask sweetly.

He smirks as he slides over to me, almost as though he knows what I plan to do. As soon as I step by him, I open the lid, then do a fake stumble thingy that has the cup flying out of my hand, and splattering all over the girl and the two boys she’s wedged between. The other girl is lucky I can’t pull off a double fake stumble and hit her side of the booth as well.

“You stupid bitch!” the girl gasps, staring down at her milkshake shirt in horror.

The guy beside her starts to stand, but Ethan shoves him back in his seat with one hand on his shoulder, not even struggling to pin him there.

“Sit,” he tells the boy who looks barely eighteen.

He pales a little when he stares up at Ethan, and I put the empty cup on the table.

“I strongly suggest you leave Britt alone,” I say with a syrupy sweet smile.

She eyes my scrubs then snorts derisively.

“Whatever.”

“I’m serious. I’m friends with the Sterlings and—”

They burst out laughing like I’ve said something ludicrous, but Ethan slides in behind me, putting his arms around my waist. The laughter slowly starts to fade when the girl takes him in, and her eyes widen with recognition.

“I also know the Sterlings,” he says, sounding bored. I almost want to do a victory dance. “And Britt is family. Let her down gently or I’ll make a call to your father myself to sever all ties to Live Wire.”

I have no idea what that is, but it sounds awesomely threatening. I’ll save that victory dance for a private session.

She clears her throat and averts her eyes, and a hushed silence ensues as Ethan kisses the top of my head. “Let’s go, babe. We have a celebration to attend.”

I let Ethan pretend we’re a couple, threading our fingers together as he guides me outside. I should take my hand back once we hit the sidewalk, but instead, I let him pull me along.

“Are we really going to celebrate something?” I ask him, almost hoping for a reason to continue hanging out, even though I should be putting space and lots of distance between us.

“Nah. Just wanted to rattle them by making them think we were going to the same place as Britt. You owe me a milkshake. I’ll collect that in the future.”

I smile in spite of myself, and I stare down at his hand that is still gripping mine. Such a small touch shouldn’t wield so much power.

“Where are we going then?”

“My place. I just got a new TV that hasn’t been used, and I finally have a chance to be alone with you.”

That has me planting my feet in the concrete, but he just tugs me along, forcing me to stumble.

“I just told you we can’t—”

“You have a serious issue with thieves. I get that. I can assure you I have zero reasons to want to steal anything from you. I won’t be robbing Angel’s piggy bank or taking anything of Allie’s. Even still, I’m taking you to my place instead of yours. Your issues have nothing to do with me.”

“There are also cheaters and liars.”

“The packaging hasn’t got a damn thing to do with those. Inhaler boy could have been any of the above. Just because he isn’t cocky or whatever doesn’t mean he’s a good guy.”

Fair enough. “I have a type. It’s only the guys I’m attracted to who seem to fuck me over.”

He turns, facing me, and his lips tilt in a smile. “Stop doing the math on everything that could go wrong, and start enjoying life while we’re still young, Bella. Trust me, time flies when you’re being an adult. And you wake up wondering what all the fun people were doing while you forgot to live.”

I’m still fun, but I don’t point that out.