Page 30 of The Publicity Stunt

Yeah, I don’t get it either.

“Don’t mind her. I’ll come with you,” April says, turning her attention to Tyler. “Meet you outside in a sec?”

Tyler grabs her waist and pulls her into a deep kiss, and I grit my teeth. Everything they do just fucking pisses me off.

He lets go and winks at her before walking toward the rest of his douchebag squad. April and I quietly make our way to the kitchen, neither of us saying a word to the other. She gets both of us a can of beer and we just stand there, popping open our drinks.

After the longest minute of my life, she breaks the silence. “Just say it.”

I look up, arching an eyebrow. “It?”

“You hate him.”

“Of course I do.”

“I knew it!” She walks over to my side.

I frown at my can. “Was I not being obvious enough?”

“What did he ever do to you?”

I scoff, taking another sip. “Made you cry.”

“But it happened a year ago. I’m over it.”

“Tough,” I say. “I’m not.”

“You’re being a bit of an asshole right now.”

“Since when has my opinion stopped you from sticking your tongue down his throat?” While I’m not angry, I’m definitely frustrated.

April leans back against the kitchen counter, her shoulder barely touching mine. Nodding, she takes a long sip of her beer.

Fuck. “I’m sorry, that was—I didn’t mean to say it like that, Chere. All I meant was that you shouldn’t let the opinion of others stop you from doing what you want. Or who you want.” I lightly nudge her arm. “Oh, come on, that was funny.”

Her resolve thaws. “Well, if it makes you feel any better. I already did.” She looks up at me. “Two days ago.”

I’m sure April sees the sheer confusion slathered across my face because she immediately hurries to add, “I didn’t know how to tell you. I wanted to. But you hate him and I thought you’d get mad at me …” She goes on and my frown deepens, realization slowly dawning over me. “Then I got stressed and got a nosebleed.”

Fuck being frustrated. I’m murderous. My blood burns, jealousy coursing through my veins. A dull buzz drones at the back of my skull.

She looks to the side, shifting a little uncomfortably, and I force a smile, masking the sinking feeling in my stomach. “You know your sister hates me, right?”

April smiles, knowing I’m trying to change the topic. “Holly does not hate you.”

“I’m pretty sure she has a dartboard in her room with a picture of my face stuck to it.”

“She doesn’t hate you,” April repeats.

“Chere, I think she hates everyone.”

She whacks my arm and chugs her drink empty. “I’m going to go pee. Meet you out front?”

I nod and she heads toward the bathroom. I grab our drinks and head out of the kitchen and toward the foyer, past the red and green streamers into the living room. The music seems to have subsided a little, replaced with loud hoots coming from the far end of the wobbly dining table. Tyler and a few other guys are huddled in a semicircle next to the wall.

I place our cans on the edge of the table and Bryan, one of Tyler’s friends, quickly shoves him in the arm. “Oh, he-hey, Parker. What’s up, bro?” Tyler stammers, hiding something behind his back.

Bro? My eyes flick down to the hand pushed aggressively behind him. “What’s that?” I point.