Breaking Even (Sterling Shore 5)

The sneaky bastard tries to slither away, but I grab him by the tail, jerking it back up from the ground. But then the vicious thing turns and strikes at my hand, and there’s not a damn thing I can do but cry out like a little bitch.

Briar scratch? That’s not like a damn briar scratch! That’s like having two searing hot, fat needles jabbed into you. The guy switched the snakes. He had to. The one he was playing with was calm and even... sweet. This thing is a rabid demon.

After it strikes me again, I drop it, and it slithers under the small crack of her bed. I groan as I stare at the impossible mess I’ve gotten myself into. I sure as hell can’t leave this horrible thing in her room. This is a complete and total fail. Instead of doing a victory lap, I’ll be playing the snake trapper all night.

***

BRIN

Grocery store, drycleaners, and the gas station. Three more stops and then I can rush home and change. I want to look better than the last time, so I actually bought a sexier pair of shorts. They’re still comfortable. They’re not as sexy as a tight dress, but they’re a step up from my usual attire. They were also cheap because of a sale, so that made it a no-brainer.

“Brin!” Tria calls, waving at me from a restaurant patio. As I move toward her, I see a red-cheeked Ash sitting beside her, sipping from a teacup.

Rain sits down with them just as I near, and then I see Raya Capperton right behind her, a bitter scowl on her usually sweet face. What’s going on? And why do they all look pissed?

“Are you guys okay?” I ask sincerely, and Ash starts crying into her napkin.

Oh no.

“We hate men,” Raya says while crossing her arms under her chest, her eyes the saddest I’ve ever seen them. I really thought things would be better between her and Kade by now.

“I can’t be in public,” Ash says, wiping her eyes as her tears pour uncontrollably.

I stand on the sidewalk as they sit behind the rod iron-fence separating us, and I remain dumbfounded and completely useless.

“We can’t go to my place,” Tria grumbles.

“Mine either,” Raya growls.

“Certainly not mine,” Rain says, sighing... oddly.

Shit. I really, really, really wanted to hang out with Rye tonight. I have so much fun

when he’s around, but... Ah, hell. I have to do the right thing.

“You can come to my place. Maggie has a date tonight, so my house will be empty.”

I won’t cancel on him until I know for sure they are staying for a long period of time.

Apparently all hell has broken loose in the fairytale lives of the Sterling Sparklers.

***

BRIN

When I open the door, I hear a rustling motion in my room, as though there’s a struggle. What the hell? Did he set up a prank that moves?

“I can’t believe he did this,” Ash groans.

I still have no idea what’s going on with all of the girls. They rode with me, but they were bashing men without details as to why they were ranting.

Instead of going to my room to find what prank Rye has left behind, I move to the kitchen and decide to make margaritas instead.

“What happened?” I ask as Rain gives Ash another tissue.

“He didn’t tell me. He kept it from me, and now... now... I’m going to kill him,” Ash growls, her fury sweeping in quickly.

The rustling in my room turns to silence, and I realize that jackass is in there right now. I’m going to kill him before Ash kills Tag. That’s why he asked me what I was doing. He wanted to make sure I was going to be out of the house, and like an idiot, I even gave him a timeframe to plot his attack. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.