Page 11 of Vicious Little Snakes

There was a tiny moment when I tried to ruin our parents’ marriage by offering myself up on a silver platter, but it wasn’t well-thought-out. I wasn’t even attracted to Grey. I hadn’t even fucked anyone then, just had the reputation—thanks to some piece of shit freshman year.

He got his later. I made sure of it.

Moments like this make me glad I didn’t ruin the marriage because then I’d never havethisbrother. Because not just any idiot would’ve done.

I wave him off, turning back to my conversation.

“Continue, Laura.”

She goes into a whole story about Hunter taking some girl’s virginity, giving her crabs and a possible bun in the oven, blah, blah. I listen, not really surprised, just happy to escape from another conversation with Grey about Liam.

“Honestly, it reminds me of a certain guy we both know.”

She whispersLiam Brooksthe way people whisper terrible maladies before adding, “Obviously minus the crabs and baby, but like the whole being an overall manwhore with girls lining up part—amiright?”

I swear I can’t escape him today.

“I have to go.” My words are curt, and I don’t care.

I fucking can’t with his goddamn name right now. I hate that I want Liam’s forgiveness, that it even matters to me. But it does, and he does. He never stopped since the day my pride met his prejudice.

“Wait. You need to hear the point.”

I exhale heavily, “Get to it, Laura.”

I snap for Grey to give me a cigarette, but he shakes his head no, so I flip him off. Laura clears her throat aggressively, and I wince. I hate when she does that.

“Hunter fucked one Tiffany Astor, and everyone is talking about it. I heard the story is going to run tomorrow on Page Six. She can say goodbye to an invitation to the Deb’s. That girl was a shoo-in. She ticked off every box, but this scandal will make her a human plague.”

I’m silent, thinking a mile a minute.

“Care. Do you know what that means?”

A chance to have something people like Donovan take for granted? A permanent place at the table? Silencing my fucking mother? All of the above.

“Don’t jinx it by saying it out loud. I’m going to go. I’ll see you in a minute.”

Laura goes silent, then says, “Okay. Meet at the front steps?”

“As always.”

I hang up the phone, smiling from ear to ear.

Grey locks his hands behind his head after tossing the barely smoked cigarette out of the window.

“A smile. Do tell, what made this miracle happen?”

I shrug, stretching my arms in front of me before placing my hands on my knees.

“Oh nothing, just slaying princesses.”

Grey barks out a laugh, “Fucking Deb season. Blood in the water is an understatement.”

Caroline

Past—eleven years old

Sunshine dances through a slit between two airy cathedral drapes that hang along the sunroom wall. I like that they’re sheer because they’re always closed, giving only a glimpse of what’s hiding behind them. On the other side is the garden patio, where blooming rose bushes and perfectly trimmed green shrubs create my very own secret garden.