Page 39 of The Secrets We Bury

I shrug. “And that’s my problem, how?”

“You were her best friend,” he says. “You knew everything she did—you were the only one who could’ve released those videos.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Bran squeezes his hands into fists and I catch the action. I step towards him.

“What are you going to do, Bran? Call me a liar? Hit me? Cheat on me? Oh wait… you did that already. Why do you care about what happens to Avery now anyway? Do you feel inadequate because your dick wasn’t enough for her? Well, now you know how it felt for me.”

“Yeah? You could’ve fooled me,” Bran snaps back. “You cut us both off. You blocked our numbers and wouldn’t answer when we called.”

“You both tried to play it off like I didn’t see you fucking. Excuse me for having a sense of dignity, but I don’t give a fuck why you did it. It never mattered to me. I don’t give a fuck what you have to say now.”

Bran’s nostrils flare and he doesn’t back down, he steps closer until our chests bump. It’s one thing after another tonight. Coming to this damn party was a mistake, but I can’t say that I’m not enjoying putting this asshole in his place.

“Say it,” he commands. “Tell me you did it. You released those pictures. That video.”

“I didn’t do shit.” I don’t even know what the video contains, but I can guess. “But you’re right about one thing—I knew about all of the guys she fucked. I should’ve expected she’d go after you. You two deserve each other. I hope you’re all caught up on your shots, Bran. A bitch like her is as loyal as a prick like you.” Which is to say not at all.

“We’re leaving.” Lex’s hand lands on my shoulder and tugs me back.

“No!” Bran reaches out, snagging my wrist. “Tell them!” He practically screams the words into my face, spittle flying onto my cheeks as he gestures wildly to the onlookers. “Tell them that you made it all up! That it was fake!”

Lex’s growl rumbles against my back, but I reach back and pat his arm with my free hand, keeping him from losing his cool. If anyone is going to fuck Bran up tonight, it’ll be me.

“Okay, Bran.” I leave the comfort of Lex’s hold and push myself back towards my ex. Bran looks down at me as I near him. His hold loosens and what looks like relief enters his expression.

“You’ll tell them?” He blinks. “It really was fake?”

I tug my hand free of his hold and mistaking the action as one of acquiescence, he lets me go. “No,” I tell him. “It was all real. Avery is a whore and a cheater.”

He stumbles backwards. “No. You’re lying!”

Why is it so hard for him to believe? How the hell can he not see the irony in his situation?

People lie for three reasons: to avoid, to protect, and to gain. “I have no reason to lie to you,” I say honestly. “But I do have something that I’ve been meaning to give you.”

As if he senses my intentions, Lex speaks up once again in that warning tone of his. “Juliet.”

Bran stares at me, brow puckered and anger and confusion still warring for real estate on his expression. I know they say you should never kick a man when he’s down, but that’s all they ever did to me and now is the perfect time for my revenge.

Without giving Bran a chance to shield himself or Lex a chance to stop me, I rear my foot back and launch my sneakered foot right between Bran’s legs.

“Oh fuck!” A guy nearby chokes out the curse in shock as Bran goes down hard, his face bleach white.

“Damn,” someone else mutters.

Bran wheezes and I bend down, grabbing him by the hair as he cups himself. His eyes meet mine and they’re glazed over with agony and tears. The sight is morbidly appealing. I smile.

“What goes around comes around, Bran,” I tell him. “But for old times’ sake, I’ll warn you of this too—Avery had a harem of guys in the city that she let pass her around at the club circuit too. You might want to get yourself checked.”

I drop his head and Lex is there, both hands on my shoulders as he tugs me back. “We’re out of here.” I don’t resist as he turns me and a stunned Gio is standing there, having obviously just come upon us. Lex nudges me towards him. “Get her outside,” he commands. “I’ll grab Nolan.”

Gio bobs his head, and I don’t argue as I’m led out of the house—my old classmates and their dates carefully ducking out of our way as we go. “Jesus, Prep Girl,” Gio mutters as we descend the front steps onto the lawn. “He’ll be lucky if he ever has kids.”

A giggle so unlike me bubbles up at that. “I’m sure his family line will be fine.” I snicker. “I have it on good authority that his dad is a manwhore too.”

Gio’s head tilts in my direction as we stride across the grass towards where we’d parked before. “Oh, yeah?”