“I’m going to kill you.”
“Babe, calm down,” Vaughan whispered in my ear.
“Let me go.”
“Don’t think that’s a good idea. You wanted to stay out of jail, remember?”
“I want to kill him more,” I panted. “Much, much more.”
“No, you’re a nice girl. You follow the rules.”
“Fuck nice. I want to dance on his grave!”
“Are you drunk?” With sharp movements, Chris tore at his bow tie, removing the scrap of silk from around his neck. His gaze raked over me, clearly unimpressed. “You are, aren’t you? God knows, you look ridiculous. What the hell happened to you, Lydia? We’ve been searching everywhere for you. Do you realize how many people are waiting over at the house?”
“They’ll be waiting a hell of a long time. I saw you and Paul together.”
Fear flashed in his eyes. But he covered it quickly, raising his chin sky high. “So? I told you we’d be having a few drinks last night. That can hardly be the cause for all this.”
“You were making out.”
All expression left his face. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Having sex.”
“Stop it.”
“Screwing.”
His hands curled into fists. “Shut your mouth, Lydia!”
“You don’t talk to her that way,” said Vaughan, voice low and deadly. Still holding me back, however.
Loud banging came from the front door. Next thing we knew, Chris’s demonic platinum-blond excuse for a mother came marching inside, glowering all the while. His father came a step behind her, expression equally thunderous. Awesome. Now the party could really begin.
“Fuck’s sake.” Vaughan hefted me up, holding me closer. “No one in this town respect property rights anymore?”
“You should really lock your doors,” I mumbled, giving up the struggle. For the moment, at least.
“Windows too.” He grunted, unamused.
“Samantha. Ray.” I stood tall. Or as tall as Vaughan’s grip would allow. The woman’s laser-like eyes cut through me, not even bothering with the guy who owned the place. Next my cell phone was thrust in my face. The all too familiar moaning and groaning of Chris and Paul’s porn filled the room.
“This is your phone,” she hissed. “What the hell is this?”
“Why, it’s your son and his bestie having sex.”
Behind me, Chris made a strangled sound. It warmed my cold hard soul.
“Impossible.” The woman swept into the house, her husband hot on her heels. It was almost impressive the way she could constantly look down her nose at everything. You’d think it would give her a headache eventually. Paul came skulking behind them, sticking to the wall, ready to bolt at any moment. As well he might, smarmy bastard. Were it not for Vaughan’s hold, I’d have been tempted to attack him too.
My blood, it boiled. “No, it’s not impossible. You see, Samantha, when two men really love each other and have some lubrica—”
“Lies!” The woman bared her pearlescent teeth. “How dare you.”
“Me? It’s your son that’s been lying, not me. And considering half the damn town apparently knows about him playing for the other team, I highly doubt you were caught completely unaware.”
“Those are nothing but malicious rumors!” One bloodred talon pointed straight at my heart. “You did this somehow.”
“Me?” I scoffed. “Right. So what … I bought a strap-on, dressed up as Paul, and somehow convinced Chris to let me peg him on camera?”
Vaughan huffed out a laugh, his grip on me loosening.
“You’re right. I can totally see that happening. It’s all my fault.” Save me from the woman’s stupidity.
“If you’d only made more of an effort to be attractive for him,” she said. “Done something with your unsightly fat ass, then this never would have happened!”
I lunged, Vaughan again hefting me back, holding on tight. Red colored my world. I was so damn mad I couldn’t even think of a decent comeback. “Oh yeah? Come over here and say that.”
Thin lips strained, the she-demon advanced, taking up the invitation. Only, her son had other priorities. Chris snatched the cell from his mother’s hand, the outburst of violence as far from his usual cool-and-in-control as possible. Face red and eyes bright, he threw it on the ground and proceeded stomping. Once. Twice. Three times. Screen cracked and innards lying bare, the phone had been smashed to smithereens. The homemade porn moaned and groaned no more.
“Good, it’s gone,” said Samantha. “It was obviously a fake anyway. I mean, who could have recorded such a thing?”
“Ooh, good question.” I didn’t even have it in me to be mad about the phone. My ex-fiancé’s furious demented expression was reward enough. Ray’s mouth gaped. Even Samantha seemed mildly stunned. Only Paul remained unmoved. Unsurprised, even.
“You sent it,” I said, realization dawning.
Paul did an awesome deer-in-headlights impersonation. “No, I didn’t.”
“You did. God.” I slowly shook my head, amazed. “You wanted me to know. Why?”
His mouth moved, but he said nothing.
“Were you jealous? Tired of hiding? What?”