Page 26 of By Rude Strength

Cass cradled the muffin against his chest. “No, I will not. See?Boundaries.”

“You mean like the ones you stomped on?”

“Yes, the ones you just reaffirmed with me and that I lightly stepped on.” Cass waved his paw. “See, youcandraw lines when it comes to how people treat you!”

LA scoffed. “Okay, but taking someone’s phone is obviously crossing a line!”

“So is when they stop you from seeing your friends,” Cass said sweetly.

“You…!Ugh.” LA groaned. “I get what you’re doing, but Gavin’s deal and what you did are not the fucking same thing.”

“But they should be,” Cass countered. “They can both be signs of an emotionally abusive relationship. Violating your privacy is just another branch of the ick tree as manipulating you, isolating you, claiming to be jealous or insecure—”

“Are you saying we’re in an abusive relationship?” LA cut in, rolling his eyes.

“What? No!” Cass pouted. “I am very sorry that I took your phone to draft a text message to Brandon and then made a little mess in your kitchen—”

“Little?”

“It’s very important for you to stand up for yourself though.” Cass continued to pout. “Why can you tell me no but not Gavin?”

“Because…” LA didn’t have an answer for that. “Becauseshut up.”

The phone had locked automatically, so LA opened it again to stare at the unsent message. It was not what he would have written, but he hadn’t even been able to type a simple greeting. Maybe it was—

Cass pressed send.

“Hey!” LA snapped.

“My paw slipped.”

“You are such an asshole! The head asshole! No, no, the king of assholes!” LA groaned loudly. “Fuck, he’s gonna think I’ve lost my mind or joined a cult where they only speak in emojis.”

“I will not do it again, I promise.”

“What? Send a text or fuck up my kitchen?”

Cass frowned. “Either thing. Both. All? Oh my God. Please stop looking at me like you hate me.”

“I don’t hate you.” LA sighed. “Just givin’ you shit.”

“Oh. Well!” Cass relaxed, visibly relieved. “I am glad you are giving me shit. Thank you for giving me your shit.”

“Don’t say it like that.”

“Oh, okay!”

LA drank more coffee, flinching when his phone went off with a text notification.

It was Brandon.

He was definitely surprised to hear from LA but it was downright celebratory regarding the breakup.

Wow, and LA had thought Cass had used too many emojis.

“Why did you have to tell him me and Gavin broke up?”

Cass had a mouthful of muffin. “Wah? Uo anted meh oo ie?”