Page 106 of Twisted Ties

34

Stone

The last peopleI want to see the next morning are, of course, the two people knocking on my door.

I know it’s them by the way the hook in my stomach pulls in that direction. I could pretend I’m not in. Make out I’m so deep in sleep I can’t hear them, but then Azlan says:

“I know you’re in there, Phoenix. Open the door. It’s important.”

“When is it not?” I mumble, pulling on a pair of pants and stumbling to the door, feeling just as nauseous and crappy as I’ve been feeling for days now.

He’d messaged me yesterday evening once he’d tracked her down. I didn’t respond to his message. Didn’t want him to think I cared that he found the little wayward brat. But the fact he messaged me in the first place lets me know he knows how much I do fucking care.

She’s all pink cheeks and swollen lips when I open the door, letting me know exactly how the two of them have spent the last few hours. Her hot gaze flirts all over my bare chest and makes the hook in my stomach buzz with excitement.

I take a large pace backwards and go slam on the coffee machine. I need caffeine to dull the stupid sensation.

When I turn back to the two of them, her hot little gaze is dancing around my cabin instead. At all the books scattered over the coffee tables, the kitchen counters and the couch. At the open bottle of scotch resting on the floor by my armchair and the stack of essays I haven’t even begun to mark stacked up alongside.

“This place is a mess,” she says, wrinkling up her nose.

“You should have seen his dorm room. I think they had to fumigate the place after he moved out.”

“Just because I’m not anal with a serious helping of OCD, unlike some people I know.”

The girl actually giggles and pokes my friend in the ribs. “I think he means you. I’ve seen how many times you wipe down the sink.”

My friend’s lips twitch as if he might actually smile.

I glare at him, conveying just how sickening I find the entire scene. Especially as the girl ran away without telling him where she was going less than twenty-four hours ago. A bit of pussy and all is forgiven.

The half smile drops from Azlan’s lips and he glares right back at me.

“We need your help.”

“Mine?” I say, pouring myself out a black coffee and downing half the thing. “You know it’s Sunday. My day off.”

“Rhi wants you to open the memories in her mind.”

I take my cup over to my armchair and drop down into the seat. I stare at them both.

“Why the sudden change of heart?”

“I told Rhi what I found in the Chancellor’s office about her mother. She wants to know more.”

“Can she no longer talk for herself?” I snap.

Rhi rolls her eyes and sends a clear image of a middle finger hurtling my way.

“Do you want my help or not?”

“We do,” Azlan says.

“You’re doing it again,” I hiss. “She can ask me herself.”

“Yes, I want your help,” she says.

“You’re not asking me in a very nice manner, Miss Blackwaters.”