Page 5 of Filthy Little Pretties

“Hashtag me too, Grey.”

“That’s not what the movement’s about, Caroline. But you’d know that if you weren’t busy sexually harassing our landscaping staff,” I respond dryly, turning and walking out the door. “It’s good to see you, Kai,” I call out over my shoulder as I exit.

“You too, Grey.”

His answer bounces off the doors I’ve closed behind me. My grip’s still on the knobs as I take a deep breath. I push off roughly and run my hands lazily through my tousled hair.

She’s only my problem for one more year. Then she can become Dartmouth’s issue.

Stalking down the hall, I turn the corner to my section of the second floor. Besides my bedroom suite, I have a library that’s adjacent. Caroline claims the first section of this wing, and I have the back portion. I prefer it that way.

I need silence. It’s the only time I can be still, no expectations to live up to. No emptiness to pretend I don’t feel.

My phone makes a thud on my desk as I toss it down and remove my cufflinks, dropping them next to the phone, before reaching for the book I left open last night. The screen on my cell lights up with another message, and I swipe to see it as I finger through the pages to find where I left off.

Liam: Dick. I wasn’t finished.

Shaking my head, I dial my best friend. Hitting Speaker before shrugging off my suit jacket, I fold it over the arm of the deep black velvet chair and relax down into it. My fingers instinctually skim across my slate desk to find the antique silver cigarette case that lives there.

“Oh man,” Liam answers. “Heard you lost another gardener.”

I huff out a half laugh, turning the case around and around.

“Word travels fast. Caroline’s pussy strikes again.”

“Dude. Kai texted. She’s a handful. You need my help?”

Outside of me, Liam is the only person who seems to be able to reason with Caroline.

“No. If she doesn’t start listening, I’ll cut her allowance when I take over.”

“Ouch.”

We both laugh, but the sound of wood clanging in the background grabs my attention.

“You rowing out this morning?”

“Yeah. I could use the peace.”

When Liam needs quiet, it’s because his father’s demands have fucked him up so severely that he can’t hear his thoughts anymore. I know the feeling, but he’s been needing reprieve more and more lately, so I throw out a bone I hope he’ll catch.

“Do what you gotta do. We need to be at our best this year. I want to hand Red Oak their asses. Again. Four-year sweep.”

“Hell yeah. Fucking dicks. Paul is such a tool. That guy just fucking bugs me.”

“Agreed.”

I open the small silver case and pluck out a cigarette, tapping the filter against the surface. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” The call ends as I place it between my lips and search for my lighter. My fingers fan out over the desk, as I survey the area, tilting my head to peer in one of the nooks.

Quiet knocking on my door filters through the room, but I don’t look up as I call out, “Come in.”

The cigarette dangles, the paper stuck to the drying flesh of my bottom lip, and a strand of my black hair hits my forehead when I glance up.

Caroline pushes the heavy door open and pads over the dark brown wood floors to me. Her face drawn, shoulders in a slight slump, she stops at the edge of the desk and fidgets with her fingers.

When she gets like this, it’s hard to hate her. I think enemies understand each other better than any other, sometimes.

I motion my head, calling her over, pushing my chair out to give her the room she needs as she crawls into my lap. She tucks her knees in, on top of my legs, as I wrap an arm around her. Pulling her tight against my body, I hold her like you would a child.