Perfectly Toxic (Sterling Shore 9)

Bella holds true to her word, and she pulls up at my house.

“Come in with me. I’ll take you home in the morning in time for you to grab some clothes. My bed will feel empty without you in it.”

Yeah, I’m reaching the pathetic line, but this rift between us seems to be growing by the minute.

She clears her throat and wipes her eyes, as though she’s crying, but I see no tears. Besides, Bella doesn’t cry. It’s one thing I love about her.

Love… Fuck that word. Because of that word, my night went downhill quick.

“Bella,” I say, prompting her to answer me when she seems to get lost in thought.

“Not tonight,” she says, forcing a smile as she looks over at me. “I’m really tired.”

Blowing out a reluctant breath, I get out of the car. As long as she has my car, at least I know for sure she’s planning to see me tomorrow.

“I’ll call you in the morning,” I tell her, watching as she gets lost inside her head again.

“Alright,” she says quietly, and I back away as she puts the car in reverse and drives toward her house.

Putting my hands on my head, I watch until the taillights disappear from sight, and I groan while pulling out my phone.

“What’s up?” Tag says as he answers.

Rye is dealing with his own issues, and Wren is too busy being overjoyed about a new kid. Tag is my only other option, even though I dread the mockery that will ensue this phone call.

“What do you do when you fuck up?” I ask him.

“Grovel and get excited about makeup sex,” he says immediately.

“Funny. Define groveling, because I think I suck at it.”

Silence stretches on for a couple of awkward seconds, until I can hear the bastard grin. “Is Ethan Noles really asking for advice about a girl? Oh, this night is fucking perfect.”

“I’ll hang up,” I warn him.

He laughs but he muffles it somewhat. Dick.

“Fine. Fine. Does she like gifts?”

“No. She hates for people paying for things for her, because her parents are assholes who held that sort of thing over her head.”

“Okay… Does she have a favorite food you could cook?”

“I don’t want to poison her with my cooking skills. I’m trying to keep her around.”

He snorts out a laugh, but continues. “Chocolate?”

“Falls under the gifts category.”

“Massages?”

“Yes, but I’d have to get close enough to be allowed to do that.”

“Right. So you’re deep into the doghouse. Um… What’d you do?”

“Fucked up. That’s all I’m telling you,” I answer, considering I’m not even sure how I did anything this wrong.

“Alright then. Get a notebook. I’ll give you all my best tips.”