Page 121 of The Sidekick

No, she really fucking couldn’t, Andi.

“You’re downloading the app tonight. I’m not taking no for an answer. Don’t make me call Shade.”

Fuck that.

I pull out my phone with a snap, set it to silent, and shoot off a text to the man in question. He gave it to me for emergencies only on Tuesday. Right after he told me he was going to investigate my life so thoroughly I would be calling him for proctologist exams. I would say this is an emergency.

Me: If you try to make Tera download some dom dating app on her phone I will kill you slowly and I don’t give a fuck about witnesses.

Shade: Where is she

He isn’t going to ask who this is? I’ve never texted him before. He doesn’t know my number. He must think this is someone else. Though, I doubt Max would text Shade and threaten his life. He’s terrified of Tera’s dictator.

Me: This is Asher. I’m at Sweet Secrets.

Shade: You are at her work leave her alone

Me: I didn’t know she worked here asshole. I’m hiding behind an aisle so I don’t embarrass her. She’ll run.

Shade:Distraction incoming

What the fuck? Is this mission impossible?

A second later, a phone starts ringing, and I cringe. He isn’t calling her, is he? If he’s trying to make her run from me, I will hunt him down and kill him now. Fuck waiting.

“Number two! I was just talking about you!” Andi’s voice is taunting, and Tera groans.

“Don’t team up, please? The two of you together is like a death sentence. Shade, just say no.”

“Now, Shade, would I do that?”

Did he call her friend? What is he thinking?

“Oh. Really? You’re not fucking with me, right? Ok. Ok! I’m doing it!” She sounds excited based on the ear-piercing volume of her voice.

“What’s going on?” Tera asks suspiciously. Her voice is getting farther away. I tense, but she doesn’t pass the aisle on her way to the front of the store. “Did he kill someone, and he’s celebrating?”

“You’re going to check me out for this sweet lingerie right this second. I think I do want those boots. You have a size twelve, right?”

“Andi, you’re a size six,” she protests.

“They aren’t for me, they’re for Brian. Size twelve?”

“I’ll have to look in the back,” she sounds bewildered.

After a moment, Andi says, “Mission accomplished.”

It falls quiet, and a text comes through.

Shade:Exit now

I don’t bother responding as I stand. As soon as I’m up, blue eyes narrow on me in speculation from the strawberry blonde at the counter. She has both elbows propped on the counter behind her as she takes me in. She raises an eyebrow and grins evilly at me. My eyes narrow in response.

“Should I invite him to family dinner tonight?” She speaks, and it’s the same voice that Shade just called, a phone pressed to her ear.

I hold up my phone, pointing to an app and shaking my head with a dark scowl.

“Don’t argue. I’m inviting him, it’s done. Send him details.” She hangs up the phone and winks at me before turning back to the counter. “Better hurry. She’s going to realize that size won’t fit him any second now.”

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