Page 75 of Pretty Vengeance

“Think it was an accident that he left us to clean up?” I ask.

“No.” Jamie studies me for a moment between bites. “It wasn’t an accident your bringing Ash into the conversation, either, was it? Why do that?”

“Testing a theory.” When he doesn’t ask, I change tack. “They need to make peace with each other. Mentioning another guy who’s making an effort to get close to her is my attempt to motivate him.”

“You need to leave off where they’re concerned.”

“He’s your best friend on campus. She’s mine. If we’re going to be together, they will bump into each other. Are we going to accept their being at each other’s throats every time they interact?”

“Cranberry Sauce,” he says in a warning tone.

“Listen,” I say, trying again to mimic his accent. Which earns me a tap on the arm. “I think they may be attracted to each other.”

“I said leave off.” His tone has hardened, and my lips purse into a pout. “And don’t try to tempt me with those lips. It won’t end well.”

My brows rise. Something is definitely off.

Jamie finishes eating and puts the plate in the dishwasher. I’m not super hungry, so I finish too and put the extra food into a freezer bag. While we’re tidying up, he pours himself another glass of whiskey. After draining half of it, he sets the glass on the stone island.

Reaching across, I put a hand on his arm. “Are you okay?”

Blowing out a breath, he studies me. “Well enough. But, listen…” His gaze falls to my hand and then he tugs his arm away.

My brows rise. “What’s wrong?”

“Fuck this,” he whispers, rubbing his jaw. “I want to ask you something.” Grabbing his glass, he raises it and drinks the last of the whiskey. When he sets the tumbler down hard, there’s a cracking sound that causes me to wince. “Do you know about the evil in your family, Sawyer?”

I freeze, my jaw dropping open a fraction. “I—what do you mean?”

After a beat, he winces and tilts his head. “You’ve gone white.” He licks his lips then scowls. “Christ, you do know. How? From a police investigation? Or another way?”

I don’t understand how he found out about my bio mom.

Or maybe I do. Brad told Clare, and Clare started spreading the rumors. Is this how she’s already undermining me in the club? And how she convinced them to give her Celine’s bracelet?

“For how long?” Jamie hisses.

I shake my head, starting to retreat.

He leans forward and grabs my forearm in a tight grip. “I asked how long?” His tone is like a slap.

Growing so stiff my body hurts, I’m overwhelmed by all the things I’ve been holding inside and trying to hide. I don’t deserve to be attacked over things I can’t control. Things that happened when I was a child.

There’s no explanation as to why a lifetime of shame and fear becomes too much to take in an instant. Maybe because I feel so betrayed. I almost told him about my bio mom myself. Never in a million years did I expect Jamie to blame me.

“Why would it matter how long I knew?” I say, my tone angry and frustrated. “I’m not the person who did something wrong. Let go of my arm.”

His eyes flame with rage that threatens to burn me alive. As soon as he releases me, I draw back.

“Right.” His voice is blistering in its intensity. “This is us done, then.” He stalks over to the stairs. “War!”

After a moment, the formidable housemate appears, towering from above like a barbarian on a cliff. “What?”

“The girl is going back to the dorm, and I’m too drunk to drive her. I need you to take her, mate.”

War scowls and then disappears from view.

“Goodbye,” Jamie says in a low voice before walking to one of the couches and sitting with his back to me.