Ugly girl

Chapter 20

I peel myself out of bed on Saturday morning feeling oddly refreshed. Despite the threat of Lucien looming over me, I slept like a baby and what’s more, my hand isn’t numb from clutching my knife. I haven’t slept like that since…well, years.

I stretch my arms out over my head and make my way toward the bathroom, only a knock at the door stops me.

The knock sounds again before a cringeworthy voice comes sailing through the door, muffled from the wood. “I know you’re in there,” Damian calls. “Hurry up and open the damn door.”

The fuck? What does he want? It’s way too early for this shit, it’s like…actually, I have no idea what time it is but either way, early morning wake up calls are another thing I don’t appreciate.

I consider leaving him out there while I pee but I’m smart enough to realize that will only result in him sneaking around the house and climbing through a window. Knowing my luck, it’d be the bathroom window while I’m peeing.

I groan and continue up the hall, making my way to the door. He knocks again as his impatience gets the best of him. “Yo, Skylah, open this motherfucking door,” he calls loud enough for the neighbors to hear.

“Chill out,” I yell back, reaching for the lock, distantly realizing that I didn’t have to step over a passed-out body in the hallway and wonder what the hell happened to Blake. Hell, I’m even left wondering where Shay and Ben are. I must be home alone because if I wasn’t, Ben would have this turd in a headlock by now. “I’m coming.”

I hear the grin in his tone. “Yeah, you are.”

Ugh. I can’t handle him.

I finally get the door open and have to clench my thighs to avoid wetting my pants. “What do you want? I need to pee,” I say with a groan, letting on just how desperate I am.

His brows furrow as he looks up and down my body. “Did you just get out of bed?”

“Umm, yeah. That’s generally what people do in the morning.”

“Morning?” he laughs, barging past me into my home. “Dude, it’s like three in the afternoon.”

I turn and gape at him as a mix of horror, confusion, and surprise takes over me. Not only did I sleep well, but I slept in? That’s just unheard of. “Bullshit.”

“Swear to God,” he says, dropping down on the couch that Slade was only on last night. He gets himself comfortable, puts his feet up and reaches for the TV remote as I stare at him, gaping like a moron. “What do you think you’re doing?”

His eyes flick up to me as though I’m some kind of irritating fly that just won’t go away before focusing back on the TV, gri

“I do,” I say, “But what’s that got to do with you making yourself at home?”

“We’re chilling today.”

“The hell we are.”

Damian’s whole head rolls as dramatically as possible as he turns to look at me. “Would you go to the bathroom? Your weird squirming is making me uncomfortable and I’d really hate to see you embarrass yourself with an untimely puddle.”

My jaw clenches. I’d love nothing more than to tell him where to shove it, but he’s right. If I don’t deal with this situation right now, there’s going to be a big problem.

I hurry off to pee and while I’m in the bathroom, I help myself to a quick shower and get myself presentable for the day. I take extra long just to be a

“What the hell is this?” I gawk, indicating to the pizza box.

He looks at me as though I’ve lost my mind. “Who watches the game without pizza?”

Realizing this is a losing battle, I give in and grab the blanket off my bed. I trudge out into the living room and curl up on the opposite end of the couch, making sure to steal a slice of pizza on my way past. “Ugh,” I groan, looking down at it. “Who gets olives and pineapple on pizza?”

He glares across at me, narrowing his eyes. “Don’t even start with me. Eat your damn pizza.”

I do what I’m told like a good little girl but find myself constantly looking up at him. “What?” he demands, not taking his eyes from this screen.

“Why are you here?”

He lets out a small sigh and pulls himself up on the couch before turning to look at me. “Because you have shitty taste in friends, so I’m doing you a solid and filling the position.”

“There’s no position open.”

He barks out a sharp laugh. “Trust me, there is. Maze ain’t good people. I’ve decided that I like you and she ain’t going to cut it. I kind of thought you’d figured that out after she was boning your man.”

I choke back a loud as fuck snort. “Slade’s not my man.”

“Really?” he laughs. “Ask him that, I’m sure he’ll have a different answer.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it. We’re just…I don’t know but I’m not his fucking girl.”

“So…” he says, suggestively, “then you’re down to fuck around?”

“You’re kidding, right?” I laugh. “I know you heard what my jackass brother let slip last night. You must be insane if you think I’m down for that.”

He gives me a knowing grin and I realize that he’s just messing around. “First off, your brother is a fucking ass and needs to be pulled in line. Secondly, you’re fucking insane if you think I’d touch you again. Cruz would have my balls for even suggesting it, but I’m still fucking thrilled you let me play around before lines were drawn. Though, I’m not going to lie, I’m a bit disappointed things didn’t get a little more exciting.”

“No lines were drawn,” I groan. “Me and Slade aren’t a thing.”

“I don’t know. You two need to have a conversation or some shit like that because the sexual tension between you two is fucking ridiculous. I feel sorry for the guy, his balls must be black and blue by now.”

An unladylike scoff comes tearing out of me. “I don’t think he has an issue there,” I comment as the image of Maze riding him flashes in my mind.

“Trust me, he hasn’t fucked Nessa since you showed up and Maze…that was just some stupid bullshit to get under your skin and from the way you ran out of there, it worked.”

“That’s not why I ran out of there.”

“Oh, yeah?” he questions with a knowing smirk. “Sure seemed like it.”

“Maze was talking shit.”

“From what I hear, it was shit he already knew.”

I groan, hating that I’m discussing this with Damian of all people. “Apparently.”

The front door barges open, making me jump and reach for a knife that isn’t there as a high-pitched squeal comes tearing out of Damian. “What the fuck are you doing here?” Slade growls at his best friend as my eyes travel up and down his body, gawking as I take in the loose basketball jersey and the grey sweatpants hanging dangerously low on his hips.

I shoot to my feet, glaring at Slade while trying not to drool. “What the hell is this? Do you two just make it your business to a

Slade tears his glare away from Damian and it comes back on me. “I told you, I’m making it up to you.”

I groan as Damian’s signature smirk crosses his face. “Ah, so you told her then?”

My head whips to Damian. “You knew?”

“Perks of being his best friend.” I flop back down on the couch, unsure how to feel about all of this, though really, should I even be surprised? His head rolls toward me with that signature smirk once again. “Thought you said there was nothing going on between you guys.”