“Hey, I hate that dog.” Endgame pointed at Axel and then took a swig of vodka straight from the bottle.

I stepped between him and Taylor. “Yeah, I just bought your ass from Julian, so let’s just call it a fair trade.” I stared down my nose at him.

I wondered if he felt the shift. The things that were happening in me because of Taylor. I wanted that safe feeling. Living with your ex-boyfriend got harder and harder to do. I was learning that the difficult way. I saw a flash in his eyes. He did know. And just like every time in the past, he wasn’t going to make things easy.

“You should've let Julian keep me. He’d be using me as an ottoman right now and my asshole as a drink holder. That would serve me right, right?” Endgame sneered at me.

I rolled my eyes and swallowed my smile. He was funny, I had to give him that. He lifted his chin in my direction before taking another pull.

I walked over and turned down the music. “You know you shouldn’t be drinking.”

“Alcohol fixes pain on the inside and the outside.” He gave me the finger.

“Goodnight, Endgame.” I watched him slam the door as I followed Taylor and Axel back into my bedroom.

18

TAYLOR

I snuck into the bathroom with my change of clothes and my phone while Austin gave Axel a treat. I stared in the mirror and touched my lips. He’d kissed me. He’d hugged me. He was turned on by me? Austin Burathon of my wildest dreams and numerous daydreams. I did a little jumpy dance in a circle. I sent a text to Peaches.

ME: KISSED ME

PEACHES: SHUT UP

ME: ON THE MOUTH

PEACHES: SHUT UP

ME: MORE THAN ONCE

PEACHES: I DIE

ME: SAME HERE

PEACHES: Oh, girl, you are in so much trouble. Teddi is going to wear you like a hat.

ME: I know. But still. I mean, what was I supposed to say? No? No, don’t kiss me, fuckhot Austin, who the entire world has a crush on?

PEACHES: I would have let him kiss me at any moment at any time in our lives.

ME: Don’t tell me that now.

PEACHES: It’s the truth. You want me to lie to you? YOU WANT ME TO LIE?

ME: No. You’re right. We all want him. OMG! I have to sleep next to him. Will we kiss again?

PEACHES: WILL YOU SMACK BUSINESS ENDS TOGETHER? WEAR A CONDOM!

I sent her a picture of my face with wide eyes. I had no more words. And I really, really needed a warm shower to stop this shivering. After I had used the “HELL” temperature setting for fifteen minutes, I was pretty sure I was back to normal human body heat.