Page 8 of Never To Suffer (The Hollywoodland #4)

Sometimes. Other times, even trying it will get my head taken clean off and we break up for a week or two.

With a groan, she pulls away, smacking me in the chest. I don’t let her get far though, twisting her fresh blue highlights in my fingers.

She wipes my lip and shows me the electric green smudge on her thumb and smiles.

If I could, I’d find the most remote castle in the world and lock us both in the dungeon, never to be seen again so I could spend the rest of my life lost in her.

Even when we fight, she’s the only person I give a fuck about.

She’d lose her mind three minutes into our dungeon lifestyle, though.

I only need the internet and some books, she needs people.

“Better?”

“No,” she lies. “No, you don’t get to do that, Charles Alexander Maxwell!” Real names. Now I’m in trouble. “You can’t seduce your way into my head like none of this happened. You’re good, but you’re not mind eraser levels of good. Giant. PIG. I can’t forget that. I’m going to have nightmares!”

As if summoned by Hades and our argument, my younger cousin appears in the doorway. Ginny holds a plate piled high with food and licks something with a gravy texture off her fork. She’s got this innocent but angry thing going on that I can’t figure out, but her grin radiates pure evil.

“Hey cuz.” She draws the U out in this awkward way. “Where’s the hot black chick with the cute tits you told my brother about?”

“Fuck off, Ginny.”

“Oh, that’s right. She wasn’t enthralled with your dick the way Dani is.” She turns to face Dani with her crooked, evil grin. “You know he fucks boys with that thing, right?”

“Go…count your gold or whatever you do.” I try to wave her off, but she pushes my arm like a school-yard bully, which she’s always been.

“At least I have gold. You don’t even have a name, loser.”

“Does your father know you’re drunk?” I sound like an old man asking that, but it’s obvious. She’s a few months shy of eighteen and has been an alcoholic for at least two years.

“Does your dad know you suck cock?”

A minuscule part of me wishes Megan had worked out, and I take the blame for it falling apart. She and Dani together would have ripped Ginny’s head off, which would make Dani’s night. Mine, too.

Megan and I never went beyond oral, but I still had her cum dripping down those thick brown thighs on plenty of occasions.

And she made me come in my pants more than once while we made out backstage during Dani’s shows.

But I became her bisexual un-awakening—if that’s even a thing.

She came to terms with her sexuality and decided she only wanted Dani for herself; that’s not happening.

We’re not asking for perfection, but we’re not about to be torn apart, either.

Package deal.

“Is that seriously all you’ve got?” Dani frowned, rolling her eyes and sighing dramatically. “Look, when you sober up and need someone to talk about your sexuality to, come find us. Until that happens, you sound like a dumbass saying that shit.”

“What the fuck? Gross.” Ginny acts like I’ve offended her to the core, but I don’t buy it and neither does Dani. She’s trying to act like an adult, but the ones she has to learn from aren’t impressive. “Are you some kind of groomer or something?”

“Jesus, shut the fuck up, Ginny,” Dani snaps, stepping between Ginny and I.

“Open your mouth again and I’ll slap the filler out of your lips even at the risk of permanently dying my hand orange from touching that fake tan.

Don’t cry to your daddy, just get lost. Also, that dress is fucking hideous and two seasons ago. ”

Ginny gawks, clutching pearls as she retreats.

“Okay, we’re burning this bitch to the ground with darling cousin Ginny trapped inside. You get the gas, I’ll find the lighters. Get the animals and children to safety first.”

“Dani.” I keep my voice soft but firm as I tuck a strand of her short hair back under her knit hat before stroking her face.

She’s got these brown eyes like mahogany, and I’ve spent hours staring into them, getting a little more lost each time.

“We’ve been through this before. You’re freaking out even though you’re safe here.

I’m safe. There’s no reason to storm out or light the place on fire. Ginny is a?—”

“Twat.”

“Yeah, that.”

“Xander, I—.” She bites her bottom lip and bounces on the balls of her feet.

“Say it.”

Her shoulders drop as she uncrosses her arms and lets them fall at her side.

I pull her in and hug her tight, reassuring her because it’s what she needs.

It’s what she always needs, even when she fights it.

Dani likes people to think she’s a strong, independent woman, because she is.

But even the strongest women need a shoulder to cry on and someone to boost them up now and again.

“Here? A safe place for me when it never offered sanctuary to you?”

“You came here wanting a fight, I get it. The world has pushed you to your limit lately, and you’re trying to reset. But, Dani, these aren’t the people you want to fight. However, if you wanna go clock Ginny, Dad would probably post your bail.”

“Can we go home now?” Dani whispers. “Or maybe out to the bar? I need my people.”

“Sure, Beetle. Soon. I need to stick around for a bit longer, so it’s not weird. Besides, if dad has a few more drinks, I might get out of the whole Japan trip thing.”

“How is it not already weird? We’re these broke ass kids loitering around. We’re not even worthy of being the help here.”

“Not true. That one guy tried to get me to take his coat. Remember?” She gives me a sideways glare. “Dani, stop. These are your rules we’re living by, remember?”

“Oh bullshit! Even before the rules, you didn’t want their handouts.” Her mouth drops open in anger and shock when what I said hits her before I can take the words back. “Wait! Are you saying it’s my fault you're now living this life?”

Shit. I walked into this.

“Beetle, please? You’re right, they’re our rules. I didn’t mean it like that. I promise, a few more minutes and you can have Steve and Ethan meet us at the bar.”

“You only wanna see Ethan.” She crosses her arms and pouts.

“Beetle, seriously? What the actual fuck do I have to do to make this right?”

Her face softens and her bottom lip trembles. It breaks my heart every time this happens.

“I’m doing it again, aren’t I. That thing where I freak out for no reason and push you away? I’m so sorry, Xander.”

“It’s alright, Beetle. Come on, I’ll find you something in the kitchen that’s more to your taste.” I give her a wink. “For the record, I’m not a fan of most of this food either. Frog legs gross me out. Who wants to eat Kermit’s legs?”

She wraps around me, burying her forehead in my neck as I kiss the top of her head. “Well, at least we didn’t break up this time. Besides, what’s a Maxwell family gathering without something going on that offends me?”

“Atta girl. Hey, wanna sneak off to my old room and mess around like we used to?”

“They turned your old room into your dad’s office now, Xan.”

“Yeah, and? Bet you’d look real pretty while I sit in that giant leather chair of his and pretend I’m some kind of big executive and you’re the hot call girl on her knees.

” Her eyes flick up and I watch the smirk grow.

There’s my Beetle. “If you’re a good girl, I’ll bend you over that desk and have you for dinner. ”

“Or maybe I’m the big executive, and if you behave, I’ll let you have a taste.”

“Hard bargain. Why don’t we try both options and compare notes?”

She bites her lip, pretending to think it over before she bolts up the set of stairs behind us. I dig into the pocket of my coat hanging in the front closet and pull out a condom. When I turn to follow her, I stop and grab one more…just in case.