Page 146 of The Sidekick

“They threatened you?” I ask with real anger in my voice. “And they still don’t believe you? Jerks. So you put in the transfer yesterday after all of that?”

“Yeah,” he rests his elbows on his knees with a sigh.

“What did he say?” I wince. This is the tough part. Matthias and Shade are at odds, so it’s a toss-up on how he’ll respond. I might have to get in the middle, not that I’ve ever minded that.

“He’s thinking about it,” Shade gives me a dark scowl that’s supposed to be psychically delivered to Matthias.

“Why are you hiding?” Asher asks and gets a glare from Shade. He’s throwing a wrench in the works just by being present, much less talking.

“Because I don’t want to see them right now.” His voice is resigned as his jaw clenches. “Because it’s just sex. They don’t feel shit for me.”

My shoulders drop as my breath catches.

“What-” I clench my hand around Asher’s knee to keep him quiet. He takes the hint with a frown.

“When I went by their place to talk to them and explain what I was doing, Melissa was there.”

I won’t think bad things. Maybe she was giving them a message. She’s been helping Shade’s team on the sly, but I have no idea what she looks like or anything. I know that Shade says he doesn’t like or trust her.

My body is doing that tense-up thing, and I know this is going to be bad.

“She was naked on the stairs with Blaze on top of her.”

“Ok,” I say softly. What else is there? There aren’t any comforting words I can give him that will work. I know the mulched heart feeling.

“Felix saw me come in and said it wasn’t what it looked like. Blaze said we weren’t exclusive, so he could fuck whoever he wanted. He asked if I wanted to join. They know I fucking hate her.”

They are soooo dead. All of them.

“How bad can I hurt them?” I whisper, staring at the floor as plans whirl through my head.

Shade looks at me, complete devastation in his eyes even though his face is calm. “Don’t get caught or arrested. And nothing physical.”

Well, darn it. South intervention is out, then.

“You have somewhere to stay?” Asher stands to walk into my bedroom.

“I live here, asshole.”

“A place that they can stake out and have a key to. You know better.” He comes back and tosses a set of keys into his lap. “Stay at my place. Use my car.”

“Really?” I clasp my hands together and bounce on the cushion as I grin at Asher.

“You’re not using mine in trade,” Shade gives him a disgusted look.

“I can call for rides,” Asher’s eyes narrow on him.

“Why the fuck would you help me?” Shade sneers, ignoring the olive branch that got thrown at him. Typical. He repels any form of friendship or affection as a go-to defense. I finally broke him of it, and they ruined it!

“Because Tera loves you and wants you to be happy. I also don’t want them in here harassing her nonstop because they will, and you know it.”

He’s helping my bestie without question and guarding my back. My heart twists and plummets into my stomach. I just jumped.

Oh no. No, no, no! Shade mask! Emergency!

“We can call and get the locks changed,” Asher continues, oblivious to my emotional meltdown. “I know a good reinforcement lock we can install ourselves.”

“Why do we need that? Not everyone is proficient at breaking and entering.” Shade argues just to argue, I bet. He knows how to pick locks. We’ve practiced together a few times. He’s still mad because I’m faster.

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