Perfectly Toxic (Sterling Shore 9)

“Could have sworn it was you,” he says with a shrug. “It’s good though. I mean, she had no problem hooking me up with girls, which means she isn’t into me. But I kind of noticed her differently that night. I didn’t make a move because I thought it was you who called her and got all crazy on me. But since it wasn’t, I think I’m going to make a move.”

My blood goes from ice to fire in that instant, and my fists ball in my lap.

“Her ass, dude… Fuck me. And her mouth… She literally says whatever she’s thinking, even if it embarrasses the shit out of her in the next instant. And I can’t help but—”

“Star!” I bark, hearing the word leave my mouth before I even realize I’ve said it.

“Yeah,” he drawls, still smirking. “I know she’s here. I’m the one who pointed her out to you.”

“No, I’m calling Star on Bella,” I snap, grabbing his shirt and fisting it with one hand as I get in his face. “Star. Star. Star!”

His lips curl up in a taunting grin. “I fucking knew it was you! What the hell, man? When did that shit happen?”

Is he serious right now?

Releasing his shirt, I put a little distance between us, just enough so that I don’t punch that smug look off his face.

“You mean you’re not going after Bella?” I growl.

“Hell no,” he says, swatting his hand. “She’s more like a new sister type of friend to me. I don’t see her like that. That was me fucking with you.”

I’m going to kill him and hide the body.

“So what the hell did you tell her?” I ask him as I stand up, putting my beer down as I pull up my phone.

ME: Hey, kind of need to talk to you.

Yeah, that sounds lame as hell, but that’s what I send her.

“What do you mean?” Maverick asks, reminding me I asked him a question first.

“I mean about the phone call you shouldn’t have answered… The one where I flipped out on you.”

“I didn’t tell her anything. I figured you’d tell her I answered, and I figured you two were keeping things on the down low since neither of you have said anything. I was trying to respect your privacy.”

He grins, and I shove at him to move out of my way.

“You respect privacy by not answering someone’s damn phone.”

“It said ‘Asshole!’” he announces loudly, acting like that somehow makes it all better. “I thought it might be some guy hassling her. I had no idea it was her pet name for you until I realized it was you on the other line.”

He makes a ridiculous kissing noise, and I internally groan.

“So is it because you’re such a dick, or is it because she fingers your asshole?” he asks me. “The pet name, I mean.”

“It’s my sunny disposition,” I grumble, still making my way through the endless throngs of people.

“Where are you going?” he asks me as I move toward the door.

“Silk. Thanks to you, I really fucked shit up with her.” I curse while grabbing my keys and tossing them to him. “And you’re driving because I’m drunk and you’re not.”

“Where are we going?” Rye asks as he and Wren follow me out.

“Silk,” Maverick says. “Because Ethan—”

I slam my elbow into his ribs, and his words end on a painful sound as the air leaves his lungs in a loud, dramatic rush.

Rye and Wren look at me, confused, as Maverick drops to his hands and knees to heave for air.