“Hey,” I whisper, reaching for my clothes while clenching the towel around my body. Can I have a few seconds away from all of these assholes? I mentally remind myself to invite Madison out this morning. I need to be around girls.
“Is there something that you’re not telling me about the Madison thing?” he asks, licking his lip.
I shake my head, gripping my clothes. “Even if I did, Bishop, my loyalty will always be to her. She’s my best friend and I would never do anything to mistreat that trust.”
He tilts his head, his eyes going up and down my body. “Even though she and Nate are so close? That has never aggravated you. How?”
I exhale, sitting on my bed. I guess we’re having that talk. “Because I’m nothing to Nate. I was something, the mother to—” I pause, my eyes closing. “But in essence, he’s never loved me. He has n—”
Bishop shakes his head. “Girls and their need for love. That’s part of the problem.” He enters my room farther, leaning back against the wall.
“Love isn’t unreasonable if you’ve poured everything into one person,” I remind him.
“I did that,” Bishop says, his eyes on mine. “And she broke my fucking heart. Now I’m feeling unhinged.”
The energy in the room shifts.
He wouldn’t.
His eyes drop to my mouth.
Okay so maybe he would?
“I’m not going to fuck you, Tillie. Chill out. I’m not that kind of guy. I have to admit that it would make me feel a fucking shit load better what with her and Nate.”
I exhale, relaxing. “Except I mean nothing to Nate.” I roll my eyes, standing up to make my way back into the bathroom.
Bishop takes one step forward. I freeze. He’s so close, towering over me like a mountain.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I’m tempted by the idea of making myself feel better by hurting Nate, but no way in hell would that ever be with Bishop. Madison needs to talk with him before he makes a bad decision.
My door swings open, and Bishop steps back quickly.
Eli scans Bishop and me.
“What?” Bishop snaps before storming out of the room.
Okay that looked bad. It was nothing and that looked like it was something.
“Well, well, well, looks like you’re finally learning the game…” Eli teases and then exits the room without even telling me what he came down here for.
I groan, going straight for the bathroom and changing before this gets worse. I need to buy a car today. And undies.
Tillie
With Bailey bailing on me at the last minute, I’m here waiting for Madison in Brantley’s car. I could have taken Nate’s, but I don’t want to give him any more reason to talk to me. The deep V8 growls under my ass and I regret not taking maybe one of his new cars. Which reminds me, how the fuck am I going to park this big beast in town?
Madison jogs out of her house, down the steps and climbs into the passenger seat. I don’t like this house. It holds too many bad memories. This is the exact place the hearse was parked not long ago.
I gulp, turning the radio down so we can talk.
“You stole Brantley’s car?” Madison smirks as she piles her long hair onto the top of her head. “I’m impressed.”
I shift it into gear and press on the accelerator. “I didn’t steal it. He let me use it.”
“Wow,” Madison murmurs. “That’s weird.”
She doesn’t understand and that’s okay. To her, Brantley is still the big bad wolf, which he is, he just doesn’t huff and puff my house down.
“I need to buy a car and clothes, including something to wear tonight,” I say, driving us onto the main highway.
She clears her throat. “How has he been?”
“Well,” I say, shuffling uncomfortably. “He came down to my room this morning to talk, and then Eli walked in and it didn’t look good. I was in a towel because I just got out of the shower and it was right at a moment that Bishop was standing directly in front of me.”
I turn toward her slightly to find her arms crossed and her eyes following the trees outside.
“Nothing happened,” I clarify, feeling the need to defend myself.
She turns to face me. “I know. I know you’d never do that. But I’m worried that he’s going to go to someone like Tate, who would do that.”
“Why do we keep this bitch around?” I grumble under my breath. “You think she would do that to you?” I mean, I know that she did it to me, but I’m not as close to her as Madison.
“She did it to you,” Madison gapes at me.
“Well, I think you need to come clean about what happened before he does something that he’s going to regret, ya know?”
She exhales. “Yeah, I know.”
“Can you tell me anything else about what happened?”
She shakes her head. “I can’t. It’s too dangerous.”
I sigh. “Okay. Well, let’s go spend my mother’s money.”
Madison laughs, her face changing. It’s like old Madison is fighting to come through.
We end up at Porsche.
Why am I at Porsche?
“Buy it,” Madison says, sucking her iced caramel macchiato. “I’m serious. I think you should.”
The car salesman looks between both of us. “Are you old enough?”
I roll my eyes, pulling my card out of my wallet. “Yes.”
He takes the card with his chubby fingers, greed lighting up his eyes. “And ID please, ma’am.”
I hand him my ID.
He nods, reading it quickly and matching the two names on the cards. I watch as excitement takes over full force and he straightens his back. “So the 918 Spyder?”
I pinch my lips.
“Yes,” Madison agrees, hooking her arm in mine. “And we should get it wrapped in pink! To match your hair!”
“No!” I snap at the salesman. “Please don’t do that and ignore my friend.”
“What color would you like? If you want a custom color, we can get that done and
