Page 97 of A Taste of Vanilla

She points to the note in my pocket. “That’s him?”

I look down. Oliver and Warren do too.

Marley plucks it out of my pocket before I can stop her. “Marley!”

She reads it. Her eyes close.

“Oh my god.”

Warren looks like he wants the floor to swallow him now.

“You left the lock note?” she hisses.

His voice is even. “The lock is bad.”

“What lock?” Oliver asks.

“That isn’t the issue,” Marley says, her focus on her brother.

“It should be addressed.”

“If it’s a broken lock, then unfortunately he’s right.” Oliver nods.

“Nobody asked you,” Marley snaps.

I press my fingers into my temples. “This is not happening.”

Marley looks at me.

Then, with the slow horror of someone remembering a sentence that should have been buried alive, her face goes blank.

My blood goes cold.

Her eyes move to Warren. Then to me.

“You said…”

I shake my head. “Nope. I didn’t say anything.”

“I heard you.”

“Marley.”

“You said his?—”

“No.”

Her mouth falls open.

I lunge.

I’m too late.

“His dick is pierced?” she all but shrieks.

Warren’s entire body goes rigid as Oliver makes a sound like he got shot.

I slap both hands over my face and peek through my fingers.