Page 178 of Indecent Obsession
“You’re lucky. I haven’t had the best luck with friends, but my parents are trying to get me more involved in society.” Nancy touches her hair and gives me a smile. She says quietly, “Some women are real bitches.”
I’ve avoided looking, but now, I turn to look at Wyatt and Verity. As soon as Verity realizes I’m looking, she touches Wyatt’s arm, drawing his attention from Finn. His brow furrows as he looks down at her hand. She gives a little laugh and leans in to say something.
His chest rises and falls in a sigh, but he answers whatever question she must have asked. When he tries to turn back to Finn, she ups her game and asks something else. She can’t hold his attention and that must be driving her insane.
I can’t help the gloating little smile on my face. But she catches it and narrows her gaze on me. I don’t know what she’s going to say but I know it won’t be pleasant.
“Oh, Nancy,” Verity says and smirks at me before turning her full attention on Nancy. My guts twist. “You and I should talk. You wouldn’t want to fall in with the wrong crowd. There are definitely people you should avoid.”
Chapter 50
Internal Rate of Return
Finn
I push Olivia’s hand off my lap when Sara’s eyes turn glassy. She doesn’t say anything, but my gut turns at the pain in her eyes. She hides it so well but I always see it.
“Finny.” Olivia’s voice is annoyingly whiny. She probably thinks it sounds sexy. She grabs for my hand again but I avoid it. I’m trying to pay attention to what’s happening at the table. When Olivia realizes my attention is on Verity, she stops and cocks her head to the side like she’s trying to determine whether Verity is a threat or not.
“You see, Nancy, there are two types of people in this world.” Verity leans forward ever so slightly, like she’s thrilled to be the attention-starved bitch she is. “There are the people who count and those who want to count, but don’t.”
Drew rubs Sara’s hand but she looks so fucking lost. She’s stronger than this, but this ex-friend is like her kryptonite.
“The ones who want to count try their hardest to make the ones who do think they should count.” Verity smiles and taps her finger against her lips. “Some of us are born to count and others aren’t. Isn’t that right, Sara?”
Sara’s eyes narrow, but there’s a weariness that sweeps over her. “If you’ll excuse me.”
She rises and walks toward the restrooms.
Fuck this bitch. I glare at Verity as I let loose on her.
“You know what, Nancy. There are two types of women in society. There are genuinely nice women like Sara. Or there are needy bitches like Verity.” I stand and drop my napkin on my plate. “You look smart enough to figure out who’s worthwhile to be friends with. If you’ll excuse me.”
I don’t wait for an answer. I don’t care who’s watching. Fuck all these people because Sara is hurting and it’s like a knife in my heart. I catch up to her before she makes it to the bathroom and capture her elbow to steer her down a hallway.
“Finn! What are you doing?” Her eyes are wide as she glances behind us. “People are watching.”
“I don’t give a shit about those people.” I move us until we’re out of sight and turn a few more corners to be safe. Her eyes are wide and frantic as I back her against the wall. “I only care about you.”
I would burn down this world to keep her safe. Something my family never did for me. There’s a reason I don’t bring up the past. A reason Tom, Dante, Wyatt, and Sara mean so much to me. They became my family since the one I was born into sucked.
She presses her hands against my chest and those soft green eyes plead up at me. “People will talk.”
“Fuck people.” I lean down and press a kiss to her lips before resting my forehead against hers. “They don’t know you. They don’t know me. Not really. But you’re hurt and I can’t let that stand.”
She draws in a breath and some of the tension eases from her shoulders. “I don’t understand what I did to make her hate me so much.”
I cup her cheek and rub her soft skin with my thumb. “It’s probably not even about you, flower.”
Her eyes search mine. “She vilified me. Now she’s trying to make it seem like I’m the bad guy all over again. I can’t do it. I don’t know what Tom was thinking. Was he just thinking with his dick? Is that what this whole thing is about? Him wanting some chick? Do I not mean anything to him?”
A tear escapes from her eye and I capture it with my thumb.
“No one knows what Tom is thinking. I don’t even recognize the girl’s name that Verity mentioned.” And Tom and I usually keep score, literally sometimes. It kept my mind off Sara for years.
She releases a breath and presses her forehead against my chest. “We should get back. People will notice we’re missing.”
I lift her chin and smirk. “You were upset. You’re like a little sister to me.”
