Page 41 of Vicious Little Snakes

“No. I don’t care about Liam. I’m tired. I think I’m finally feeling the exhaustion over planning and school.”

I know Liam’s angry and holding a grudge, but I never entertained the thought that he’d skip tonight. Missing my birthday is tantamount to saying, “I don’t want to know you anymore.”

Does he really never want to know me again?

Kai grabs my hand, bringing the back of it to his lips. “Well then, I have the perfect gift.”

I roll my eyes. “Your dick is not a gift. You take it back with you. How many times do I have to say that?”

“Shut your pretty mouth. It’s something pink.”

I’m about to saypussy, but his finger shushes me.

“It’s not that either, you little whore.” His grin is contagious. “Now you can’t have it.”

I take his finger in my mouth and suck, letting it go with a pop. Kai groans and wags the wet finger at me. “Not fair.”

He reaches into the breast pocket of his jacket, pulling out a small clear bag and shaking it in front of my face.

My eyes shoot open. “It’s pink!”

“Like I said.”

I grab the lapels of his jacket and bring my lips to his. “It’s the perfect present.”

Since I’d like to forget the night before it even starts.

He gives me a wink. “But you know the rules. You only do this with me, and you stay by my side for the night.”

“Of course. Done.”

Kai stands, walking over to my mirrored vanity, and sprinkles out some of the contents before looking back at me.

“I need something to cut with. Give me your credit card.”

Before I can say anything, he’s opening the drawer, rifling through, pulling out my hidden case.

“Hold on—”

Kai’s holding the cigarette case in his hand, “Is this your wallet? Why is it all the way back there?”

“No. That’s not—”

His brows furrow as he opens it, then looks over to me, “Care, what is this?”

My heart stops.It’s exactly what you think, Kai.I’ve never told him any of my history with cutting myself, and I’m not starting tonight.

“Oh my God. I forgot that it was even in there. It’s been a hundred years since I’ve seen that. I was so emo when I was thirteen.”

He’s staring at me, wanting to believe me, so he does. Manipulation is always the most effortless when a person cares about you—because the alternative is that they think you’re a monster.

“Caroline the emo cutter—it’s almost unfathomable.”

I stand looking down at my crystal princess shoes, glimmering in the light and wishing that today weren’t my birthday because then maybe my life wouldn’t feel so shitty.

“Everyone’s a caterpillar once,” I tease.

Kai growls at me, giving me a once-over and spreading his muscular thighs so I can perch.