Page 133 of River of Deceit

“I’ll make sure not to sit on my dress when I’m in Blaze’s fancy car,” I say. I close my eyes and sigh happily. “Wouldn’t want to stain my dress.”

“Ugh. Not on the leather,” Blaze complains. After a pause, he says, “What are you gawking at, Asch? Get in bed already.”

Asch tosses the cloth on the nearby nightstand then climbs intobed behind me. He kisses the back of my neck again, his arm sliding around my waist. “Are we staying the night?” he asks.

“Why wouldn’t we?” Blaze asks. “Don’t make this weird, Asch.”

“Yeah, Asch,” I mimic. I roll over so I can face Asch and tap him on the nose. “Or do you really want to drive back right now? I bet Blaze will fall asleep at the wheel and we’ll all die in a horrible accident, all because you were so impatient to run away from me.”

“I’m not running away,” Asch says. “I’m just not sure you aren’t going to try to suffocate one of us in our sleep, that’s all.” There’s humor in his voice, though, and he nips my shoulder.

“That’s why there’s two of you,” I point out. “So you can protect each other from my dastardly ways.”

Blaze wraps his arms around my waist and nuzzles the back of my neck. “Just wait. One of these days, you’ll actually be scared of me.”

I laugh. “Yeah, if you say so.”

That’s the end of the conversation, and I settle in with both of them surrounding me. I have never wanted to cuddle with my casual fucks.

But they’re different.

Asch and Blaze are absolutely perfect.

25

RIVER

Pandora didn’t go to her morning class.

I know, because I’d waited in front of the classroom until it started, then returned as it was ending to see if she’d snuck in late.

She’s not in her dorm room either. Per her snotty roommate, Pandora was out all night, “probably spreading her legs and catching diseases.”

I’d seen red at the words, and it had been all I could do to stay polite until she’d shut the door in my face.

I know she’d gone out with Blaze and Asch the night before, but I hadn’t thought she’d stay out all night with them.

I pull out my phone and send her a text.

River

Where are you?

Pandora

Student lounge. If you’re coming this way, bring a sandwich or wrap for me? Pretty please?

I want to retort that one of her new boyfriends can getit for her, but instead, I send back a thumbs up emoji. I head to the cafeteria and grab a chicken caesar wrap for her and a BLT for myself, then head to the student lounge.

I don’t know why I’m playing bitch for her.

I spot her in the lounge and cross over to her, giving her a once-over. She looks fine enough — better than she had after Asch had cut her up, a thought that still makes my blood boil — but I can see dark marks on her neck.

“Have a good night?” I aim for casual, but the words come out harsh.

Pandora smiles at me. “I did! You should have come along. It would have been even better.” She pats the spot next to her on the couch. The shoulder of her hoodie slides down, and I get a better look at all the hickeys and bruises on the delicate skin of the nape of her neck.

I grit my teeth, but I sit down next to her. “Yeah, I wasn’t invited,” I say.