Page 15 of Inseparable
Mariah subtly kicks my leg under the table, and I whirl around. Ayden is watching me with a wary look on his face. I only pick at the rest of my lunch, miserable at the thought of Becky flirting with Devin across the way.
“Want to come back to my place?” Mariah asks at the end of the school day as we walk outside. My eyes quickly scan the parking lot, cursing when I fail to spot Devin’s truck. “We can study for the calculus test together.”
“Sure, but could we go to my house? I want to see Mom before she leaves for work.” I shift my heavy book bag from one shoulder to the other. “And I want to drop by the gas station to talk to Devin before his shift starts if that’s okay?”
“No sweat. I’m cool with that.”
I drop my bag on the back seat of Mariah’s car and send a quick text to Ayden. He waves at us as we drive by.
I turn up the radio, and we both sing along to our hearts’ content. Mariah taps a beat off the steering wheel, and we grin goofishly at one another.
My good mood evaporates the second she swings the car into the gas station where Devin works. Devin is leaning back against the side of his truck, and Becky Carmichael is pressed up against him, her hands tracing circles on his chest.
A nasty taste floods my mouth, and a bout of jealousy swiftly kicks me in my lady parts. Disappointment, anger, and hurt race through me, and I’m hopping out of the car, striding toward them, before I’ve consciously processed the movement.
CHAPTER SIX
My fists are clenched in rigid knots at my side as I quicken my pace. Devin notices me first, and he removes Becky’s hands from his chest and slides sideways. “Hey, Ange.” His smile is guarded, because he knows me too well. He understands I’m about three seconds away from personal nuclear detonation.
Becky purses her lips and sends me a smug smile. I want to pummel her into next week. The thought should shock me, but it doesn’t. She has pushed me to breaking point, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her away from Devin. Even the thought of him and her hooking up makes my skin crawl and my heart rip into smithereens. “Mason City’s very own Virgin Mary, in the flesh,” she drawls, returning to Devin’s side. “You’re interrupting. Now run along and do whatever it is girls likeyoudo.”
I plant my hands on my hips and glare at her. “Girls likeme?”
“Sweet but boring. Haven’t you figured it out yet,Ange?” She enunciates Devin’s nickname for me in a derogatory tone. “Guys don’t want sweet and boring. They want girls who put out and know how to have a good time. Why do you think no one asks you out? They know it’s a waste of their time.” Her words poke new holes in my tender heart. “So, shoo, run along now and play Barbies or whatever you and Mary Sue over there have lined up.”
Devin slings his arm over my shoulder, hoisting me into his side. Turning the full extent of his wrath on Becky, he narrows his eyes and glares at her. The smile drops off her face, and she visibly shrinks. “If anyone’s leaving, it’s your skanky ass.” His voice is low and menacing, and emotion clogs my throat. “If I ever hear you speaking to Ange like that again, I won’t be responsible for my actions. No one speaks to her like that. No one!” he snarls, and she jerks back as if he’s slapped her. “Get the fuck out of my face, and stay the hell away from me. I’m not interested, and I never will be.”
Pushing her discomfort aside, she plants her game face on, smiling seductively at him. “Come on now, Dev, don’t be like that. She knows I’m just kidding.”
“No, you weren’t,” I grit out. “And you heard him, get lost.”
“You’ll come crawling to me, Devin, begging for it, and I’ll remind you of this conversation.” She backs up with a smug look on her face. There isn’t much I admire about Becky, but her supreme self-confidence is something else.
“I hope you have an endless supply of patience,” Dev retorts. “Because hell will freeze before that day comes.”
She blows him a kiss, and I growl under my breath. “Oh, I can be patient for you. One hundred percent. You’re worth it.” Her mouth pulls into a sneer as she sends me one final contemptuous look. “Later, gorgeous.” She blows him another kiss before jumping in her car and tearing off with a squeal of tires, leaving a cloud of smoke trailing in her wake.
“I hate her.” The words fly out of my mouth, fueled by the anger still pumping through my veins.
“I thought you didn’t waste any energy on hate?” He spins me around, loosely wrapping his arms around my waist.
“I’ve changed my mind.”
He kisses the end of my nose. “Don’t change for anyone, least of all her.”
“Why did she have her hands all over you?”
“She caught me off guard is all.”
I harrumph, mumbling under my breath.Who lets people manhandle them without knowing?Devin smiles. “Don’t tell me you’re actually jealous of Becky Carmichael because that would be a travesty.”
“I’m not jealous,” I lie. “I’m sick of her taunts and her pranks and her constant attempts to annoy me. I just want her to leave me the hell alone.”
His smile fades. “She’s still tormenting you? I’ll put a stop to it.”
“No, you won’t. That’ll only make things worse. I can fight my own battles.” More so, I want him nowhere near that manipulative bitch. I might despise her, but I can’t deny she’s stunning and she knows how to have guys eating out of her hand. And contrary to popular opinion, I’m not naïve. Devin is a red-blooded male who likes sex. Becky is gorgeous and sexy and experienced in all the ways I’m not. Yes, she’s a bitch and everyone knows it, but she has no shortage of guys drooling over her. I don’t want Devin falling prey to her charms. The other girls are bad enough, but it he hooked up with Becky, I don’t think I could ever forgive him.
“You know what she said was bull, right?” He searches my eyes. I shrug, and he grips my chin. “Hey, she’s full of shit. Guys don’t ask you out because they know Ayden and I will kick their ass if they don’t treat you with respect, and most of them are too afraid you’ll reject them.”
