“Yeah, but we can make sure we’re okay and stay near each other. I think that’s our best bet.” She slipped her hand under my shirt and rubbed her fingertips above my navel.

I wrapped her hair around my fist lightly. “You ready for bed?”

She lifted her head and looked in my eyes. “Always.”

* * *

TAYLOR

In the morning, we had a fresh hell of stuff to deal with. Whoever was working with Roberta was relentless. The school website and a few of the club websites had a splash page featuring Austin in a white dress and me in my white dress from the Stars Unlimited advertisement. Austin turned his laptop so I could see the screen.

Two brides! No one wears the pants

in this family.

I was furious.

Austin lifted one eyebrow. “She’s not even clever. Who goes through all of that and then delivers that limp line?”

“She does. She’d totally do that. All gas, no brakes. No forethought. I mean, she literally spent all her time naked when I lived with her. I could have taken a million pictures and videos of her, but I never did and never would, but, like, that’s your choice of torture? It could backfire on you.” I stomped over to the kitchen and got out a spray cleaner and a roll of paper towels. I would rage clean. He remained on the stained couch and turned his laptop to face him again.

“Yeah, she’s not working with a full crew. I’ll text Milt. I wonder if they can pinpoint where she’s based out of? Then maybe follow that activity?” Austin pulled out his phone and started sharing the websites that were an issue.

He looked tired today. Being with me right now had to be a heaping pile of annoyance. Then the man kicked out his ex-boyfriend last night, and I knew that was a difficult scene. He would, I was sure, enjoy having a day where his balls weren’t being busted by my ex-dorm mate.

I called Peaches and she picked right up. “The bitch you were living with has such a boner for you. What’s up with that?”

“I don’t know. I’m out of her dorm. The only thing I think she’s still obsessed with is some belief that Austin is a celebrity, which he is not.” I set down the cleaner and started filling the dishwasher while we spoke.

“Well, he’s hella more famous than I am, that’s for sure, and screw Roberta. Both of you wearing white at your wedding is a great damn idea. You both look hot in that color.”