Page 51 of Vicious Little Darling

And I can’t have that.

Chapter Twenty-Four

EMBER

“Holy shit…” Megan just stares at me as I finish telling her everything. “That’s… That’s a lot to go through in a short amount of time. Maybe you should take some vacation time.”

“And do what? Hang out in Xander’s apartment? I literally can’t stay there forever.”

“But you’re together?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know what we are. It’s impossible to know. It’s happening so fast, and I just don’t know what to think.”

Megan leans against the counter, her red hair spilling over her shoulder. “You could just be thankful that you met him when you did? I mean, granted, I think he fueled Josh’s ridiculous reaction. I’ve always known that Josh had feelings for you—and I knew he was a bad seed, too.”

My jaw drops. “So why the hell would you not tell me that?” I throw my hands in the air, able to show my true emotions thanks to the empty store. Rich is out running errands. I’m pretty sure he didn’t want to have to try and find the right words for me.

“I don’t know! You’ve known Josh for way longer than I have, and the two of you have always been so close… Plus, you know, sometimes I read people wrong. You seemed to trust him so easily.”

“That’s concerning,” I mutter, letting out a ragged breath. “What if I’m reading Xander all wrong? What if he’s not a good guy either?”

“Don’t let what’s happened to you, ruin what you’ve found. You always said you’d never spend the night with Josh…. Why?” She gives me a knowing look, and I shrug.

“I don’t know.”

“Exactly, but I think you have your own intuition, too. It’s just not screaming as loudly as mine was.”

“But you didn’t say anything,” I reason.

“I’m sorry. Had I known… I just didn’t…” Megan’s voice trails off as she frowns. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be saying anything like this right now. You’ve been through hell, and here I am trying to say I told you so.”

I give her a smile and run my chipped black fingernails along the counter. “Nah, it’s okay. I think I knew deep down that something wasn’t totally right with Josh this whole time, but I just… I never thought…” My voice breaks and tears slip down my cheeks.

Megan rushes around the counter and wraps me up into a hug.

“I’m so sorry Josh is such an asshole. I can’t even imagine what you’re going through. It’s not fair at all, especially after… Well, you know.”

I sniffle, batting away the tears. I didn’t tell her that I slept with the guy who tried to murder mewillingly. I didn’t tell her that we had sex twice. I didn’t tell her that I wanted him. I still don’t know why I wanted him. IlikeXander though. I like him a lot and feel the same intense attraction to him.

And he didn’t care what I’d done.

I blow out a sharp breath as Megan backs away, and my eyes drift toward the door. Part of me expects Josh to come looking for me, trying to make a million excuses for what happened, but at the same time… I don’t think he’d have the nerve to show up at the bookstore—or even guess that I’m here.

Does he know where Xander lives? Would he show up there?I rake my fingers through my hair as I move towards the box of books that need to be distributed throughout the store.

“You don’t have to do that,” Megan says, frowning. “It’s totally okay for you to just hang out and let the day pass. You won’t hear me complain.”

I wave her off. “No, that’s okay. I need something to take my mind off everything.”

She nods. “Whatever you need, Em, and if you need to stay somewhere else, don’t feel trapped at Xander’s. I can come and get you. I have a couch you’d fit on just fine.”

I laugh. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

With that, I busy myself with putting up the books and trying to pass the time. I don’t want to think about Josh, but for some reason, my mind replays all of the times little red flags popped up and I ignored them.

I just thought he was protective.But protective looks different with Xander. He doesn’t berate me for anything. He doesn’t judge me for where I live orhowI live. Of course, I guess hecould change… But Josh has always been like that. From the very beginning.

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