Page 97 of The Rowdy Ones

So close his tongue has been inside me. So close his finger was in my asshole. So close he fucked me multiple times last night, each time filling me with his cum. I’m pretty sure she would die if she knew all that.

“A staff member saw him walking you to the building this morning,” she says flatly. “And then he kissed you.”

I freeze at her words, my tongue thickening in my mouth. Swallowing down the fear of being caught, I attempt to deny her words. “That’s silly.”

“Is it?”

The air is thick with tension. I squirm in my seat. Needing to do something, I chug the coffee in my mug, throat constricting at the cooler temperature of it. I prefer it hot, and it’s cool enough I want to gag.

“Honestly, Gwen,” I say as I find my voice. “These insinuations and accusations are getting pretty old. If I’m happy and I tell you everything is fine, why do you keep pushing?”

Leave me alone. Leaveusalone.

“Well, Destiny, let’s circle back to what I told you. I live and breathe for my patients. If I think someone is being abused by their caregiver or family member, it’s my duty—”

“Abused?” My voice is shrill and dripping with disgust. “Those people in that group therapy room are being or have been abused by their own family members. Why aren’t you in there helping them? I’m literally telling you I’m fine and you don’t believe me.”

“Destiny, calm down, hon.”

I rise to my feet, shaking my head. “I didn’t kiss him. He’s not inappropriate with me. No one is hurting me at home. Please stop asking. I like coming to this clinic, but it’s starting to get uncomfortable for me.”

She sighs in frustration. “Please. Let’s talk about this some more.”

My phone jingles with an incoming text from Rowdy. I don’t dare ask my phone to read it to me aloud and prove her case to her.

“My ride is here,” I say as I head for the door. “See you next week. I hope this will all be behind us by then.”

It takes everything in me not to slam the door behind me.

As I wait for our cheeseburgers, I read Wild’s text.

Wild: Holy shit. Why am I just now finding out Evan is a suspect?

Me: what do you mean

Wild: Don’t play coy. Dad told me everything after Talia left this afternoon. He also said Uncle Will had Evan brought in for questioning earlier.

I guess Will decided to do what was right. It’s still weird to think of Evan as a possible killer.

Me: i can’t see him doing that shit though

Wild: I can. He’s a devious fucker. See, this is why I want to become a cop. To take down scum like my cousin.

Me: but your going back to college so i guess you will be a football star instead no handcuffs for you

Wild: You’re. And I’m working on it. I’ll tell Dad. Maybe this summer. You’ll be the first one I arrest, sister fucker.

It takes me far too long to locate the middle finger emojis to send to him. I pocket my phone to free up my hands. Plus, I’m done talking to his stupid ass.

“Rowdy,” the cashier calls out. “Here you go.”

I thank the lady, grab our bag of burgers, and scoop up the carrier with our milkshakes. Destiny and Scout are waiting eagerly in the truck for my return. After passing her the food, I climb into the warm truck. It snowed. Again. Snow is pretty back home, but here, everyone drives on it, turning it to gray sludge. In town, it’s just annoying.

“Guess what,” I say as I peck my sister on the cheek. “Wild texted me.”

“About?”

“They brought Evan in for questioning.”