Stanton Box Set

“I don’t want him to think that I am after anything,” he replies.

“Can’t you be friends?” I frown.

He shrugs. “Maybe, I haven’t scoped that out.”

My phone rings and the name Jesten lights up the screen. I roll my eyes and answer the call. This is about the fourth time he has rung me and I can never answer it because I am always with Joshua.

“Sorry, I have to take this,” I whisper to Adrian.

He waves me off in an I-don’t-care-I’m-drinking kind of wave.

“Hello, Jes,” I answer.

“Tash, I wish you’d answer your damn phone. I have been trying to get in contact with you.” He sighs in relief.

I frown. “What’s wrong?”

“We haven’t spoken since you chose the dickhead over me and I thought…” He goes silent as he rethinks his wording.

I narrow my eyes. “He’s not a dickhead!” I snap.

Adrian smiles as he licks some salt from his glass and clinks his with mine.

“Who is it?” Adrian asks with a frown.

I write the name Jesten on my napkin and he smirks at my annoyed face.

“Jes, if you care to remember, last time we saw each other, you had the audacity to tell Joshua that I loved every minute of the sex we had and you knew that was a downright lie. We have never even kissed, Jesten,” I blurt out angrily. “Why did you do that?” I ask, hurt. “I thought we were friends?”

“You would love every minute of it,” he replies, ignoring my last question.

“Oh god, are you even listening to me?” I respond.

“I had drinks with Simon last night,” he volunteers.

I frown. “Simon, my Simon. Since when have you and Simon been close?” I didn’t even know that they knew each other.

“He’s been coming to the prison and we got to know each other,” he replies.

“Oh,” I answer. I did not expect that combo of friends. Mr Nerd meets Mr Bad Boy—what a combination.

“Simon told me you are marrying the psycho,” he snaps.

I bite my lip as I start to fume. I can just imagine those two gossipy bitches on a Joshua-sledging fest.

“Yep!” I snap. “I can’t wait.” Don’t give me your attitude, dickhead. I’m not in the mood.

“Natasha. You can’t be serious?” he growls.

I screw up my face. “What?” I snap.

“Natasha, he isn’t good for you!” he replies angrily.

“What?” I shake my head in frustration. “Oh and you are?” I sneer. This guy is pissing me off.

“Yeah, I was a lot better than him. Money isn’t everything you know,” he scoffs.

I roll my eyes at Adrian and he smiles broadly. He’s loving this.