Perfectly Toxic (Sterling Shore 9)

It’s Star Morgan all over again… Fuck that. Nothing is worth that shit.

Pocketing my phone, I get in my car, cursing myself the entire time. A fucking girl was never supposed to get into my head. I was on the verge of playing house after promising myself I’d take the chance to live out the years I lost being the good son.

My fist flies out before I can stop it, and I punch my steering wheel three times, hearing the horn explode each time as though it’s screaming in agony.

Fuck this. Fuck her.

Chapter 28

BELLA

ME: You won’t believe what happened tonight. I worry about people.

ME: If you send that suit pic, I’ll send you that dirty pic tonight.

ME: You’re not texting me back. I’m getting worried.

ME: Hey, is everything okay?

ME: Seriously? Silence is all I get?

ME: I heard Wren tell Allie you talked to him yesterday, so at least I know you’re okay and it’s just me you’re ignoring. Way to be classy and end things. Fuck you and goodbye.

My phone looks like a disgruntled stalker’s phone with the one-way conversation I’ve had with Ethan since the last time he actually spoke to me.

It’s not like I expected anything any different, yet I keep checking my phone every three seconds like he’s going to message me with a damn good reason as to why he hasn’t contacted me in over five days now.

Nine days he’s been gone… That’s how long it took for him to put me out of sight and out of mind.

I curl up in my room, turn on a movie, and debate spending the night binge watching TV instead of going out with the girls

the way I planned.

Unfortunately, Allie walks into my room, looking me over like she’s confused.

“Why do you look like you’re in breakup mode?”

I’ve become too readable.

“Because I’m considering breaking up with work. This is my first day off in a really long time, and I’m exhausted.”

She laughs while sitting down on the edge of the bed. “I’ve thought about going back to work several times, but it’s nice being at home with Angel so much. And Wren really needs an assistant, but he won’t hire one, so I’ve been handling everything he refuses to get help with. It’s… nice. I never thought I’d like it so much, but I do.”

“Can we have a slumber party instead of going out?” I ask her, sprawling out dramatically.

She laughs while lying down beside me. “I can ask the girls. All the guys are over at Ethan’s tonight. He’s having another wild party, so they’re hanging out until they can’t handle it anymore.”

My entire body turns to stone, and I slowly turn my head toward her. “Ethan is back?”

“Yeah,” she says with a shrug. “He got back yesterday, I think.”

I nod slowly, letting that sink in. It’s not like I can explode right now and tell her everything. I already feel stupid enough for letting him fool me.

“So, how about Silk instead?” I ask her, deciding I’m sure as hell not going to waste time sulking at home while he’s partying like a frat boy and probably screwing with some other chick’s head by now.

“Silk sounds good, but you just said you wanted to stay in.”

I get up, looking for the sexiest thing I have in my closet, and I settle for a new little number I got from the Pretty Posh samples Bo gave me.