Page 5 of Revelation (The Josh & Kat Trilogy #2)

“Oh my God. You’re pissed I said you’re more beautiful than a Victoria’s Secret supermodel?

” I take a deep breath, trying to control my rising anger.

“Why are you doing this? I haven’t given you shit about Cameron Schulz or any of the guys you’ve slept with—and it sounds like there’s plenty to choose from. ”

Oh shit, I shouldn’t have added that last bit. Ooph. The top of her head just popped off.

“Well, maybe you’d react differently if Cameron emailed me a photo of his balls and asked me to ‘motorboat’ them!” Her eyes bug out. “ Again !” she shrieks.

I stifle the urge to laugh. She’s pretty funny right now.

Kat’s still fuming. “And you wanna know the reason why Cameron’s not sending me goddamned dick-and-ball-pics?” she continues. “ Because I was honest and clear with him about my lack of interest. ”

“Oh, okay, sure, Kat—you’re so fucking honest all the time .

Let’s talk about that cute little speech of pure fiction you made about how you never, ever get jealous unless you’re in a committed relationship.

Hmm? What about that?” I scoff. “So, okay, maybe I didn’t get my words exactly right when I talked to Jen.

But that was because I was trying to let her down easy. At least I was trying to be nice .”

She clenches her jaw. “What does that mean? You don’t think I’m nice?”

I pause. “No, I... I think you’re nice—really nice. It’s just that...” Why do I keep feeling like I’m digging myself a deeper hole? “It’s just that, you know, you’re a Scorpio,” I say.

She looks at me blankly.

“God wouldn’t have designed you with a stinger on your tail if he didn’t want you to use it on occasion, right?”

Her mouth is hanging open.

“But that’s okay. I like your stinger.” Oh boy.

I’m really not doing myself any favors here.

Okay. Once again, the best defense is a good offense.

“Jesus Christ, Kat,” I say. “You’re just like my fucking brother—physically perfect and you don’t even know it.

And you’re needy just like him, too.” I shake my head.

“Kat, you’re absolutely beautiful. I told you.

I couldn’t have designed you better myself.

But you’re also insane, apparently. You’re seriously driving me crazy. ”

Her cheeks flush.

There’s a long beat.

“I’m not usually this crazy,” she says softly.

She twists her mouth. “Something happens to me when I get around you.” She throws up her hands.

“Look, I’m being an asshole—okay? I realize that.

I’m sorry.” She exhales and flaps her lips together.

“I tell you what. I’m gonna go downstairs and meet up with Henn and do the photo thing for my Oksana passport, okay?

And while I do that, why don’t you stay here and write a reply to Jen.

Whatever’s the truth, just tell her, once and for all, as clearly as possible. ”

“I’m not interested in her, Kat, like I keep saying.”

She bares her teeth. “Glad to hear it. And after I do the photo thing with Henn,” she says, “I’m gonna sit my butt down at a Blackjack table, drink some whiskey, and get control of myself. I’m sorry I lost it—that email just really threw me for a loop.”

“Why?” I ask. “I already told you I fucked Jen. And, yeah, okay, I buried my face in her tits when I did it. So sue me.” I grin. “She’s got some really nice tits.”

Kat presses her lips together.

“Kat, she means nothing to me, like I said. I only called her because I told her I would when I ran back into the party and practically ran her over trying to get your shoes and purse.”

There’s a long beat.

“I don’t get why you’re reacting this way,” I say.

Kat looks up at the ceiling and then back at me, her face suddenly awash in emotion. “Just tell me right here and now, once and for all: are you Garrett Bennetting me?” she blurts. Tears suddenly flood her eyes and she wipes them.

“ That’s what this is all about?”

She nods.

I roll my eyes. “ No ,” I say emphatically. “Of course not. I shouldn’t even have to tell you that.”

She wipes her eyes again. “All those women, Josh.” She looks up at the ceiling like she’s trying to keep tears from spilling out of her eyes. “I don’t care if you’re a manwhore. It’s just... you can have any woman you want—anyone at all. The daughter of Gabrielle LeMonde—”

I scoff loudly, shutting her up.

“A Victoria’s Secret Angel.”

“A devil-woman with battery acid in her heart.”

Kat bites her lip, obviously trying to suppress a smile. “Emma.”

“A woman who called me a sick fuck and then promptly ran off with a dude who owns polo ponies and wears a fucking ascot .”

There’s a long beat. Kat’s eyes are unreadable to me.

“I’m obviously way out of line here—just a total head case,” she says.

“I’m sorry.” She exhales loudly. “I’m gonna go get a drink and play blackjack while you reply to Jen’s email.

She’s a twat and a half, don’t get me wrong, but even twats have feelings, too, and she deserves an honest response.

Lemme just go downstairs and pull myself together for a bit, okay? I’m really sorry I’m acting so crazy.”

She turns around to pound the elevator call-button, her shoulders slumped.

Fuck this shit. I’m not in the mood to write an email to Jen right now. There’s only one thing I want to do: kiss my smokin’ hot Party Girl with a Hyphen.

I bound down the hallway to Kat, my cheeks on fire, a massive lump in my throat, my dick rock hard. I grab her shoulders, whirl her around to face me, and kiss the shit out of her. “I’m not Garrett Bennetting you, Kat,” I mumble into her lips. “I promise.”