Page 14 of Badd Love

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"RAQUEL!"

Despite a door between them, Raquel held her hands up, palms out, in a gesture of surrender. "Alright, alright. Have it your way."

Hamish patted me on the back. "I'll text you later, laddie," he whispered. "Good luck with that bird. You'll need it."

Raquel squeezed my arm. "Maybe just leave her, Dane. She clearly doesn't want to talk about it." This is whispered as well.

"I can hear you whispering!" Lindsey shouted

"I'm good," I whispered back. "Just go."

Hamish and Raquel took their leave, and I was alone in the corner/hallway.

"Kell?" came Lindsey's voice a solid minute later. "You still there?"

I sat down on the floor, put my back to the door. "Nope. Just me."

"Dane?"

"The one and only."

"Did you miss the part where I said to go away and leave me alone?"

"Nope."

"So, if it applies to one of my best friends, why would it not apply to you?"

“Oh, I'm sure it does," I said. "I'm just choosing to ignore that."

"Dane—"

"Lindsey, I'm not leaving."

"Dammit, Dane. I'm not letting you in. I want to be alone."

"Fine. You can be alone in there, and I'll be alone out here."

"Fuck me," she muttered.

"I did. It was fantastic. Wanna go again?"

"DANE!"

"No? Okay, then."

"Dane."

"Linz?"

"What do you want?"

"A million dollars. A Ferrari. Peace on Earth and Goodwill Toward Men."

"Dane. Please. Just answer the fucking question."

"I did."

"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME, FUCKNUT?" she shouted.

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