Page 31 of The Retaliation You Deliver

I want to argue with her and insist that everything between Leon and I is over, but even thinking about the words makes my chest ache.

I hate him for what he did. But I also understand his motivation.

My head spins with the whole thing.

“Drinks,” Ella calls, holding up a neon bottle of something I already know is going to ruin my Sunday.

“Just a small one,” Letty says with a wink.

“Oh yeah, I know exactly what your small ones are like.”

She snorts a laugh. “I don’t do small things.” She winks and my cheeks burn, the image of her and Kane that first night I met them flashing before my eyes. “I know you don’t either,” she whispers quietly in my ear, making my entire face heat.

“Okay, pass it over,” I say, knowing that I’m going to need it.

I don’t think anything of it and throw the bright green drink back in one, regretting it instantly.

“What the hell is that?” I mutter as my mouth continues to water with the sour taste while my throat burns with the strength of the alcohol.

“Sour apple. We’ve got raspberry, too,” Violet says happily, holding up a bright pink bottle.

“This is going to hurt tomorrow.”

* * *

Three hours, more drinks than I can count, and a face mask that has been on way too long and I’ve got my arms above my head dancing around my dorm room with Ella and Violet who are singing Taylor Swift at the top of their lungs.

“I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun,” I shout, my head spinning, the wide smile on my face making my cheeks ache as my hips move with the music.

“It was time for you to let your hair down,” Letty says excitedly, coming up to dance with me.

“We should go dancing. Like, dancing, dancing,” Violet suggests.

“We’re having a night in, remember,” Letty says, the only one that seems to have kept her head tonight.

“No, let’s go dancing,” I say, forgetting about everything other than how good this feels right now.

“Are you sure?” Letty asks.

“I’m finding us a party,” Ella announces, grabbing her cell from the side and immediately focusing on it, or at least trying to. I can’t imagine she’s seeing things all that straight right now.

“I need to get changed,” I blurt out, knowing that my pajamas aren’t going to cut it for wherever we’re going to end up.

“Let’s find you something sexy,” Violet says, dramatically pulling open my closet and rummaging through it.

“Ugh, Macie. You need to go shopping, girl.”

“I’ve got something. I brought spares,” Ella shouts, throwing her cell on my bed and diving for one of the bags she brought with her. “Here,” she says, throwing a scrap of fabric at me.

“What the hell is this?” My face scrunches up as I wrestle with the material, trying to figure out which way up it even goes.

“It’s a dress. Come on,” she says, stepping up to me. “Off.”

“B-but I don’t—” I don’t get a chance to argue because she has my top off in a heartbeat ensuring I flash them all my bare breasts.

My arms fly to cover myself up.

“Chill, girl. We’ve all seen a pair before. Here.” She tugs the fabric over my head and down over my exposed body. “Shorts off. Sexy panties on,” she demands, swatting me on the ass before turning back toward her bag for another almost nonexistent dress.