Page 89 of Between Now & Heartbreak

“My breasts…they’re aching. I want—” Beth whispers in my ear.

Like she even has to ask. I lift her shirt and she leans back to give me access. Her nipple is fat and round and when I close my lips around it, it swells against my tongue. Her hands find my hair and she tugs when I bite the rounded side of her breast before I pull her nipple into my mouth.

And then music floods into the room and light flashes. I look over at the open door to find Etta standing there.

27

YOU’LL HAVE TO KILL ME FIRST

CARTER

“Youbitch,”she shrieks before she turns her burning hot eyes to a dazed Liz. She takes another picture as we scramble to straighten our clothes.

“Etta, what the hell?” I say as I try to take it from her.

Etta presses something on her phone and then turns to walk away.

“She took my picture,” Beth’s outrage is all over her face and she shoves her way through the crowd after Etta.

“Fuck.” When I catch up with them, they’re in the hallway near the entrance. Liz grabs Etta’s arm and spins her around.

“Let go of me you cheating, man stealing bitch.” Etta spits.

I walk over. “Etta, I’m sorry you saw that, but I’m not your man to steal.”

“I’m not talking aboutyou.” She sneers.

“You better delete whatever the hell you took.” Beth makes a wild, uncoordinated grab for the phone.

Etta easily sidesteps her, waves the phone tauntingly before she drops it into the purse she’s got slung over her shoulder.

“Etta? What the fuck are you doing?” I step into their fray.

“You’re a liar,” Etta whirls on me.

“I didn’t lie to you about anything.”

“She’s trouble. I tried to warn you, but you’re an idiot, just like every other man.”

She whirls on Beth.

“Andyou.You’resodone. You fucking phony. I got it all on here and I’m going to make sure everyone knows what I’vealwaysknown.” Etta says with malevolent glee on her face.

Elisabeth takes a step back as if she was shoved.

“You wouldn’t.”

“Oh yes, I would. You stole Duke from me with your whole Ms. Perfect act. He’s only with you because your daddy’s rich. But once he sees you getting busy in a public bathroom, even your money won’t save you.”

Beth’s eyes bug out as if she can’t believe what she’s hearing, and then she lets out an incredulous bark of laughter before she looks back at her, a weird grin on her face.

“This is about Duke? He was never your boyfriend, you fucking psycho.” She growls loudly and the veins in her neck stand out.

“He would have been if you hadn’t stolen him.” Etta screams back, and her eyes fill with tears that she brushes away.

Elisabeth leans away, observing her as if surprised by the display of emotion.

“Oh, I see. You’re not a psycho. You’re anidiot,” she says her eyes brightening as if she just solved a puzzle she’d been working on for a long time.

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