Page 27 of Filthy Little Pretties

Unknown: Patience isn’t a virtue I possess.

My eyebrows draw together as I stare dubiously at the unfamiliar number, debating whether or not to answer. I roll onto my back, my thumbs finding the keyboard.

Me: Sorry. Wrong number.

Bubbles pop up immediately and then go away. Sorry, stranger.

Unknown: Nah. 5’6, blonde, hot af, salty af too?

A giggle bursts from me, and I hurry to sit up. What the?

Me: Who is this? Grey? Liam? Grey, this is you, isn’t it?

I’m waiting for his response, legs crisscrossed, breath bated when another unknown number pops up.

Unknown 2: Hey, Beautiful, bummed I didn’t see you after school.

Oh my God.

Me: Who is this?

What the hell? My teeth chatter from the tiny chomps on my gum that I take while I study both of the numbers. Grey and Liam. But who is who? Sneaky bastards. They must’ve stolen my phone. My thumbs hover as I bounce my knees up and down, excited by this game.

Unknown 1: Do you think we’d make it that easy?

Unknown 2: You’ll have to figure out who is who…use that dirty mind for something other than torturing us.

I answer the second text, figuring these two psychos are coordinating.

Me: I hate you two. Challenge accepted. Once I figure you out, I’m changing my number and finding new friends.

Unknown 1: Liar. You love us.

I knew it. They’re coordinating. I immediately pull up the first unknown number and rename it Bert and the other Ernie.Seems fitting.

Me: Fine. I’ll keep you but only if you give me clues.

Bert: Deal.

Ernie: But we might lie…

Ernie is Grey. Has to be.

Bert: One of us already started lying…

Scratch that. Bert is Grey.

Grey

IT’S BEEN THREE DAYS OFus torturing Donovan and not telling who’s who on her phone, much to her dismay. She’s guessed a dozen times correctly—even when we’ve switched phones, she called it—but we keep lying to her mainly because we like messing with her. Also because we’re pricks.

Liam laughs and holds out his phone for me to see.

Van: What was my favorite show to watch with Grey when we were stranded at his Hampton house?

Her questions have brought back so many memories. Damn, I missed this. Her. Us. This. I pick up my phone and answer, even though she texted Liam.

Me: The nanny wouldn’t let you guys watch anything but those Mexican soap operas.