Page 47 of Deliverance

“I love your hair,” he says, reaching out and wrapping a curl around his finger.

I smack his hand away, causing gasps to escape both mothers before a darkness fills his gaze. I chance a look at Harry and Nicholas, both watching me with disapproval. Quickly, I paste on a sorrowful smile.

“I’m sorry. My hair gets tangled so easily, my deepest apologies.”

The men seem to be pacified enough with that, while the mothers still purse their lips in disapproval. The look my mom is giving me promises I will be paying for that later.

“No apologies needed. Forgive me, I couldn’t help myself. You are…so much more beautiful than I expected.”

I lift a brow at that. “Oh, you were expecting me?”

Miles nods. “Our parents have been in discussions for a few weeks now. I look forward to getting to know you better.”

“Me too,” I say as demurely as possible. “If you will all excuse me, I need to find the restroom.”

I step away before they can stop me and practically sprint in the direction of the bathrooms. When I push the door open, I see there is a line, despite there being five stalls. Yeah, stalls. In a home. Because Christopher Putnam puts on so many gatherings and parties, there would be no other solution.

By the time it’s my turn, I actually have to pee, so I step into the stall, taking an obnoxious amount of time in hopes that Miles and his family fuck off somewhere else. It’s great to know my mother and Harry have been plotting to set me up for weeks now and this is the first I’m hearing about it.

When I’m finished and wash my hands, I slip out of the bathroom discreetly, heading towards the back of the house. The back patio should be a perfect place to hide out until we’re able to leave. Patio is putting it mildly. It’s a seventy-five foot by thirty foot concrete promenade overlooking the gardens and a maze.

I step out back, the mid-summer night air pricking at my skin when I hear the sound of a man moaning. Looking around from side to side, I realize that I’m alone. That is until I focus on the heavily shadowed area to my left. It takes my eyes a moment to adjust before I recognize Asher Putnam; his dark brown hair pushed to the side, and his hands wrapped in a woman’s hair as he pushes her down his cock.

Rolling my eyes, I shake my head. The guy is easily the biggest whore in all of Salem. Why shouldn’t he be, I guess? He literally has the world at his feet. One day, Asher will take over for his father and he will rule all. Why shouldn’t the slutty little prince get his dick wet while he still can? It’s the girls that throw themselves at him that are pathetic. They can’t possibly think that any of them would be Christopher’s pick for him, can they?

Because I’m nosy as hell and enjoy a good exhibition, I wait until he’s finished to see who his lady of the night is. He practically growls as he forces himself down her throat as he comes. She chokes and sputters around him before swallowing his release and pulling back.

God, I’m so glad I don’t have to suck cock. It honestly looks repulsive.

A small smile plays at my mouth until the girl pulls away fully, the moonlight shining on her face. My smile drops as fast as my heart does before smashing into the floor. What the actual fuck? Bridgette?

I can’t help it. I don’t even mean to speak until I’m already spewing venom at her.

“Are you fucking serious? On your knees for Putnam again? Just like that?” I shout.

Both of them turn to face me. Asher gives a half dazed look as he casually stuffs his cock back in his pants, while Bridgette looks panicked.

“Maggie!” she says before taking a breath of composure as she stands. “What are you doing here?”

I laugh bitterly. “Not much. Just watching my stepsister fulfill her role as the Gallows Hill slut. You’re holding your title remarkably.” I make it a point to look from her freshly fucked hair to the smudged lipstick before I turn on my heel and walk away.

I hear her heels click as she chases after me, her hand wrapping around my arm as she speaks quietly.

“Please, give me a chance to explain, Mags. Please.”

“Get the fuck off me!” I snarl, not giving a fuck what kind of scene I’m making in front of Putnam right now.

Bridgette flinches like I’ve hit her before her expression falls. Am I supposed to feel sorry for her? Seriously? I know we weren’t together, or at least there were no labels or any of that shit, but come on. We were together enough for this to sting like the worst kind of betrayal. Just because she’s struggling with accepting it, wanting me or whatever, doesn’t mean she can fucking toss my heart in the trash and jump on Asher’s dick all in one breath, right? Right. Fuck her.

I storm back inside, pushing and shoving my way through people before making it to the front door. Bridgette doesn’t try to follow me, and I’m glad because I don’t know what I’d do if she tried to get in my face right now.

When I reach the valet, I pop open my rideshare app and order a ride. I pay extra so it gets here in record time and before anyone can stop me, I’m sliding into the back of a Camry and getting as far away from that bitch as I can.

Chapter Fifteen

Bridgette

“Maggie!” I call out as she storms through the doors, practically running back inside.