Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 111676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 558(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 558(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
“I don’t know why you haven’t blocked him,” Cassie said.
I should have, but one thing had stopped me. To block someone was to cut them out. As if their effect on you was so great, you had to remove it from your life entirely. I hadn’t even done that to Wolf, and what I’d felt for Brent was a spark by comparison. I refused to place that kind of importance on Brent. He didn’t deserve it.
Although at least he was trying. Wolf hadn’t even tried to contact me after I’d broken up with him. Not even broken up—asked for a break. He was the one who’d changed his number, so, I guess, really, it was he who had broken up with me by means of ghosting. Maybe some sick part of me wanted him to be able to keep trying. Wanted him to mourn what he’d lost in a way Wolf clearly never did. To feel like I was worth a fight to someone. Shame he couldn’t have fought the urge to fuck that girl.
I tucked my phone into my bag, my attention drifting back to the house and the two girls now dancing on the porch in their underwear. Best to just get it over with. When I got out of the car, the two girls predictably kissed, and raucous cheers rose above the thump of music.
“Acting like it’s a damn brothel,” Cassie said, rounding the front of my Jeep.
“It’s a frat house. I think that might be worse.”
The music grew louder as we cut through the tall grass and up the porch steps. The sickening scent of vomit and cheap perfume welcomed us into the crowded house. The prospect of having to search for him in that hazy cesspit annoyed the hell out of me. “Let’s get this over with,” I said.
Cassie pointed to the far side of the room. “Maybe try over there, by the group of bare-titty girls first?”
An unwanted sensation stirred in my chest at the thought of Wolf enjoying this. Wanting those kinds of girls, taking them to his bed… I shut those thoughts down and shouldered my way through the party. I wasn’t there to give a shit about his love life.
After searching the living room and kitchen, Cassie grabbed my elbow. “I’m going to find Rogue.”
So much for her moral support. I’d given up with her where Rogue was concerned, though. He was like an unhealthy obsession. She disappeared amongst the crowd, and I carried on through the carnage.
Just as I rounded a corner, I spotted Wolf’s hulking frame caging a busty blonde against the wall. She had a tight ponytail and fake-and-baked skin. Judging by the flirtatious smile on the girl’s face, she was enjoying every drop of his attention. Something nasty and unwanted twisted in my gut. Wolf had always been a player. Before me. Apparently, after me. Probably with me, the most insecure part of my brain suggested.
Taking a breath, I shoved past the group of people separating us. When I stopped behind Wolf, the girl’s attention flicked to me, her flirty smile shifting into a scowl. “Can’t you see we’re busy?”
“Well, Wolf can unbusy himself.”
Wolf’s blue gaze drifted over his shoulder, homing in on me as one of her manicured fingernails slid over his stubbled cheek. I wasn’t ready for the familiar, ugly shot of jealousy that spread through my veins like poison.
“You lost or something?” Wolf said, turning from Blondie to me.
Even in a room full of sweaty college students, smoke, and beer, I still caught the clean, crisp waft of his laundry detergent. I told myself it was purely anger driving my pulse up with each hard inhale of his scent. Not the association of safety, love, lust… I really needed to rewire that mental association. Love and lust couldn’t be helped, but there was nothing safe about Wolf Brookes. Not for me.
“I want the money—” I jabbed a finger against his firm chest. So firm, a jolt of pain shot through my knuckle. “Wolf.”
“Money for what?”
“You know exactly what. You never would have even looked at that car if I didn’t want to torch it. So, the least you could do is give me a cut of what you got for it.”
He took a sip of beer, indifference written all over his hardened face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“If anyone should profit from Brent’s misfortune, it should be me.” My voice wasn’t as steady as I would have liked.
“Really?” He stepped forward until his firm stomach pressed against my chest.
With the girl he, no doubt, intended to fuck standing right there, the contact should have repulsed me. Instead, it felt like my entire body came out of some long hibernation, like he was breathing life back into dormant parts of me. God, I hated him.