Perfectly Toxic (Sterling Shore 9)

“I changed my mind,” I tell her while pulling out the skimpy leather skirt and a red shirt to go with it.

“If that’s what you’re going to wear, then I need to go home and change,” she says, pointing at her jeans and t-shirt.

“Bo sent over some things, so feel free to raid my closet.”

She claps her hands together and jogs over to my closet to start changing. Me? I go for extreme sexy girl on a mission. Ethan Noles reminded me who I am. Some girls get the fairytale and the prince. Those are the good girls.

Some girls are just meant for empty sex. Those are the bad girls. I guess it’s time to accept my role, because not everyone gets the fairytale.

Chapter 29

ETHAN

“One party every other weekend for the next eight weeks? Are you serious?” Wren asks me on a groan?

“Yep. And you assholes will be there,” I inform him.

“Man, I can make a few, but I have a kid. I can’t be at a raging party every other weekend.”

I’m still too pissed to really give a damn about too much, so I shrug it off.

“Yeah, well, the announcement has been blasted across some chick’s social media, so the partying will persist. Come or don’t. I really don’t give a damn at this point.”

“What the hell? Why are you being even more of an asshole than usual?” he growls, but I ignore him as I chug down a beer.

My eyes land on a tight ass that is covered by a little denim skirt. Unfortunately, my dick doesn’t seem pleased with the choice, so my eyes continue to roam. There’s really only one way to get over a girl…

“The girls are at Silk,” I hear Dale saying to Corbin as they walk away, and my jaw grinds. I’m sure Bella is with them.

“Star Morgan is here,” Maverick says, grinning as he comes over to me.

Sure enough, I see her as soon as the words leave his mouth, and she sees me. She bites down on her bottom lip, acting unsure. I have zero interest in her. She’s just as bad as Bella—actually, she’s worse. I had a future planned out with Star. High school bullshit is all it really was.

I chug the rest of my drink before narrowing my eyes, letting her know to stay far away from me.

Her lips tighten and she takes the hint, walking away. Maverick is smirking at me when I turn toward him.

“What?” I ask, sounding overly pissy.

“So, what do you think of our Bella?” he asks, causing me to strangle on my beer.

Clearing my throat, I aim for nonchalance. “I don’t really think about her at all, to be honest,” I lie.

He nods, but he’s studying me with a wry smile on his lips.

“See, I could have sworn it was you who called her a few nights ago,” he goes on, still watching me warily.

I look around, noticing Wren has moved to the corner where Rye looks miserable and ready to bail. It’s just Maverick over here with me, and no one can hear us over the music.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I tell him, confused.

“I had Bella play my wingman the other night after she had a long shift at the hospital.” He sips his beer as I play his words over in my mind. “Some guy named ‘Asshole’ in her phone called and he freaked out when I told him she was in the shower. By the way, she’s the best wingman ever, in case you’re ever looking for one. She’s a hell of a lot better than Dale.”

A chill rides through my spine, and I get a little sick as he continues watching me.

“It wasn’t me,” I lie, forcing a cool external that I don’t feel.

I’m such a fucking asshole. No wonder she has me programmed like that. Motherfucker.