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cheek and fractures out in a spray of crimson over her lip. You were torn to pieces. Who
did this to you?
It wasn t a who. She turns back around reluctantly and lifts her chin to me, exposing
herself fully. It was an it. I was chasing after someone, trying to say goodbye her
voice grows incredibly small as if the real story lay hidden in that truth and I met up
with some rabid mutt. I was just six at the time. I was playing in the yard, and the
neighbor s dog jumped me. Tried to eat my entire damn face for breakfast.
Shit.
Oh, hon, believe me, I know it was shit. She looks back to her reflection and starts
dabbing the sponge to her face, and the scar slowly bleaches away. It s still shit today.
She glares at the raw snakelike lines marring her complexion. It ruined my fuckability
factor. Her eyes cut to mine. Yeah, I said it.
Cassidy! I cover my mouth, unsure whether to laugh or cry. You are totally
fuckable, and we both know it. True as God. I mean it.
Oh, hush. You re just too damn nice to admit otherwise. She pauses and looks to me
with a silent pleading in her eyes. I don t show anybody this mess. I had a hell of a time
in school until my mother started helping me cover the damn thing up. She inverts her
lips a moment as if holding back tears. Can I ask you a favor? Please don t tell anyone
how bad it looks.
No. God, of course, I wouldn t say anything. You re like the best friend I ve ever had. I
would never do that to you.
Her eyes pool with tears. You mean that?
Yes, I mean that. You re one of the nicest people I know.
Cassidy pulls me into a deep embrace. Thank you, she whispers, pulling away. I ve
put up with more than my fair share of mean girls. It just comes with the territory. It s
nice to have someone genuine around for a change. She blots the tears from her eyes
with a tissue. So, who s this boy that stole your heart? Her mouth rounds out in an
instant O. It s him! She clutches at my arms like she s about to save me from a fire.
Owen? She breaks his name into two pieces, and it sounds adorable as hell.
Yes, Owen. He s awesome and pretty amazing.
Cassidy sags. Her lips crimp with disapproval. Buyer beware. People can be awesome
and pretty amazing when you ve only known them for less than a month. What does that
boy do for work anyway? She gets back to the business of expertly concealing her scar.
He s a What the hell does he do? He s doing the internship with me.
For free. Is Daddy bank rolling that apartment? How does he eat? Who the hell is
paying for all those tats?
Don t forget the nipple ring. I sigh at the thought. I ve yet to clamp down on it with
my teeth, but that, too, is on my naughty photo agenda. Although that picture will be for
my private viewing pleasure. It makes me sick that Jules and Lucille are privy to all our
intimate moments. On the flip side, I ve spent hours each night just looking at those
quasi-pornographic photos, and I don t regret a single one. To say I ve been salivating
that they ve been making me wet all over, would be an underestimate. Owen has
officially garnered the nickname, Panty Soaker.
Girl, you ve got it bad. She finishes applying her foundation and spins toward me.
How do I look?
Beautiful as usual, but I m not talking about your ability to cover up your scar. I m
talking about the real you inside and out.
She pulls me into another heartfelt hug. You re just all about making me cry tonight.
You still haven t answered my question. Love or not love?
She pulls back, her eyes steadying over mine. You are so far gone over this boy,
aren t you?
My cheeks burn with heat, answering for me.
Well then, there s only one thing it can be. She hikes her shoulders, and her blonde
curls bounce. Must be love.
Must be.
I thought so, too.
The Black Bear is teeming with girls in short skirts, men dressed however the hell they
felt, and then there are the girls rushing for Alpha Chi, with our signature ponytails, our
ruby red lipstick we wear with pride, and soon to follow, our pearls once we gain
admission to the most sought-after sorority at Whitney Briggs. The official candle lighting
ceremony is next Monday night, even though all potential new member activities end this
Friday. That gives Jules and Lucille the entire weekend to calculate points. The girls who
participated the most get the prize, or pearls as it were, which seems fair until you pan
out and see the bigger picture. God knows how many Super Pledges they have running
around out there, desperately trying to tackle some sexual bucket list. All bullshit aside,
that s essentially what it is.
I see Scarlett and Daisy. Cassidy points to the dance floor, but my eyes snag on a
familiar hard body that I d like to take a bite out of Owen. I give a quick wave as he
heads for the bar, but he doesn t see me.
I ll be right there. I sort of want to say hello to someone first.
She follows my gaze and gives an approving moan. You really know how to pick em.
Once you get in with that one, make sure you don t forget about me in the event he has
any cute friends. She dives into the crowd, and just as I m about to track down my
favorite tatted up bad boy, a hand clamps over my shoulder.
Hey, Pipe. What are you doing here? A deep voice rumbles into my ear.
I look up to find my older very much handsome big brother, Wyatt.
I give a few hard blinks, hoping to God it s not really Wyatt, but this is me, and my
luck dictates that it is. The last thing I want is Wyatt finding out about Owen and me me
and anyone for that matter.
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