Page 123 of The Devil We Crave
Then I start to cry.
Like a patheticwimp.
Wren is instantly next to me, hugging me tightly to her as the tears flow.
As does the whole story.
And I meanthe wholestory.
Okay, I leave out Kyle and the stolen police evidence. But I tell her about the Para Bellum party, and the chasing, and the mask, and the knife, and the cliff and…all. Of. It.
When I’m done, my throat is dry from talking for the last—Jesus,hour. But I’m not crying anymore. I’m just sitting huddled on my bed, my knees against my chest and my best friend hugging me.
“Well?” I mumble, looking at her miserably. “On a scale of one to mandatory psychiatric commitment, how fucking crazy am I?”
She smiles at me.
“You’re not crazy, babe.”
“I…think I might be?”
She grins. “I mean, you’rewaykinkier than I would have guessed in a zillion years, you horny little bitch…”
I snort out a laugh.
“Butnotcrazy.” She smiles wryly. “Welcome to the non-virgin club, I guess?”
I look at her pleadingly. “You’re not mad I told Ari first?”
She grins. “Iwould beif she’d gotten the whole story. But since she didn’t get the juiciest deets, we’re cool.”
She laughs as she hugs me.
“Hey, I love you, okay? And I’m so fucking sorry this…” Her face darkens. “Actually, we need to switch gears and figure out how we’re going to jump that motherfucker and cut off his dick,” she hisses.
I smile wryly at her. “You gonna avenge my honor?”
“Uh,yeah!” She purses her lips angrily. “Like,fuckAchilles!” Her eyes snap to mine. “I mean, definitelydo notfuck Achilles ever again. That asshole does not deserve the air you exhale. Got it?”
“Got it,” I mumble.
She eyes me. “Okay, you know what we’re doing tonight?”
I wrinkle my nose. “Getting into pajamas and reading something spicy from Galina’s TBR list?”
She shakes her head. “Nope. Smut can wait. We’re going out. The Reckless are throwing a party at The Spire tonight, and we’re going to getlit.”
I start to protest, but she shakes her head and takes my hands in hers.
“Look, I know I’m a mess right now, okay?” She shrugs. “I really am. And I’m sorry for that, and I’m going to try to turn my shit around. But right now, as your best friend, I amtelling you, this is what you need. Trust me.”
My mouth twists.
“Say yesssss,” she sings.
I start to giggle.
“Yesssss, Wren,” she whispers in a hilarious cartoon voice. “Let’s go oooout and get looooooose. Let’s get a little drunnnnk.”
