Page 173 of Revenge Puck

Then I drag both hands through my hair and pace three steps before turning back.

“Jesus Christ, I was going to tell her tonight.”I swear I was.

“Bro—take a deep breath.”

I glare at him, energy draining out of me.

I drop my head and sink back into the bench, elbows braced on my knees. My hands slide up and cradle my skull, fingers digging into my scalp like I can physically hold my thoughts in place.

For a second, I sit here immobile.

Breathing.

Stewing.

Trying not to implode.

“What happened?” I lift my head and look at him. “Walk me through it, word for word. Don’t leave anything out.”

“I don’t know—I was up at corporate to say ‘hey, what’s up?’”

“You went up there specifically to say hello to her? What were you doing, flirting?”

He shrugs. “I mean—yeah.”

Oh my god, this guy. He’s going to be the death of me if I don’t kill him first.

“You decided to flirt with the girl I’m seeing,” I say flatly.

“What? It’s basically window shopping,” he counters. “Not only that, we’re not supposed to be banging anyone from corporate.”

“Storm…”

“What? She’s gorgeous.”

I rub a hand down my face.

“You have the survival instincts of a houseplant,” I mutter.

He ignores me. “Anyway, I’m up there, I’m saying hello. Squishing this toy thing she has on her desk, telling her she looks wholesome.”

Wow.I bet she loved that.

“Can you stay on task—get to the part where her brother and I come up.”

“Right. That part.” He laughs, like this is a story we’re recounting fondly over beers. “So, I say something random about the air in the locker room being weird and it’s because of you and Kennedy.”

I close my eyes briefly.

“And then?” I press impatiently.

“AndthenI said something like, I think he walked into Kennedy’s apartment and found them fucking.” He gestures vaguely. “Except I didn’t use the word fucking. Juliette isn’t into cursing.”

Oh.

My.

God.