Page 65 of The Demons We Hide

“Okay, now that your ass is fine,” I say with a twitch of my lips. “I repeat: What are you guys doing here?”

“We came to see how you were doing,” Mads says.

“And to ask if you’re going to the afterparty this weekend,” Roquel adds.

“Afterparty?” I frown between the two of them.

“Uh, yeah?” Roquel bumps my shoulder with her own. “Don’t tell me they haven’t told you yet. There’s gonna be another bonfire party after the game this Friday. The Scorpion Kings are pretty much required to attend because they’re on the football team, and as their Scorpion Girl, you kinda should be there too.”

A scowl overtakes my expression. “Ugh, donotcall me that.”

Roquel cackles. Actually, fucking cackles—like a wicked witch or something. “That’s what everyone’s calling you now.” As if I didn’t already know and hate it.

Mads pats my leg gently, drawing my attention back to her as she gives me a sympathetic look. “It’s just words,” she offers as if it’s compensation. “They don’t have to mean anything.”

I remember the last time I’d seen the school counselor, and Ms. Beck’s voice echoes in my mind:Words are important… they’re weapons that no one even realizes they’re using.

I swallow back the bile collecting at the bottom of my throat. “Yeah, well…” I shake my head. “It’s just annoying that everyone seems to think I belong to them now.”

“You kind of do,” Roquel says, and I want to snarl at her. She merely shrugs, unconcerned. “It’s not necessarily a bad thing,” she points out. “They’ve managed to keep Megan and her cronies off your back because of it.”

“Doesn’t stop them from slipping shit into my locker,” I grumble even if I have to admit that the shoulder checking and hissed insults in the hallway have all but gone away.

Roquel tilts her head to the side, her attention snagging on something below us on the field. I turn my head in the same direction and spot Lex at the edge of the field, his helmet off and his dark hair pulled away from his face, dripping with sweat despite the cold. His eyes find mine as he chugs from a Gatorade bottle. My stomach tightens.

It’s been weeks since that night I fucked him to get back at the others, and though I hate to admit it, it was probably some of the best sex of my life. Compared to the Scorpion Kings, Bran hadn’t been much of a partner. Things are already complicated enough between us that I’m not sure if I should encourage the three of them into that sort of relationship.

“So…” Roquel hedges, her voice curious as she flips her attention back to me. “I gotta ask—which one of them are you fucking?”

I groan and Mads leans forward, shooting our friend an unimpressed look. “You promised you weren’t going to pressure her,” Mads snaps, more than a little annoyance in her tone.

“It’s been weeks since she moved back in with them,” Roquel whines. “I haven’t asked, but I gotta know. It’s killing me inside.”

“I can kill you on the outside, if you prefer,” I offer. Mads smacks my side, obviously thinking I’m joking. I’m not.

“Enough, both of you,” Mads demands.

“You want to know just as bad as I do!”

I swipe a hand through the air, cutting Mads off before she can reply to Roquel’s protest. “I’m not fucking any of them.”Anymore,I silently add.

Roquel snorts. “As if I believe that.”

“Believe what you want.” Everyone else already does and it doesn’t mean it’s true.

Quiet descends between the three of us as we all go back to watching the action on the field. Lex is called back to the others and together, he and the rest of the Silverwood Scorpions football team continue their practice. All the while, I think about the afterparty Roquel mentioned. It’s been a while since I’ve attended a party and not been concerned about what would happen to me.

One thing is for sure, though. I’ve gotten accustomed to being a Scorpion Girl, whether I like to admit it or not. It’s like walking around with a bubble surrounding me. Sure, there are still nasty looks, the bullshit stuffed in my locker, but overall, it’s nothing I can’t handle. Life under their reign is… easier, even if I hate to think of it that way.

“I’ll be there,” I eventually decide. Mads’ brow crinkles in confusion, but Roquel knows exactly what I mean and she squeals, throwing her arms around me.

“Fuck yes!” She tightens her hold. “This is gonna be so awesome. We’re gonna get yousowhite girl wasted!”

I roll my eyes, but don’t mind the hug. “I doubt I’ll get that drunk,” I admit, “but I don’t mind a few beers.”

“It’s gonna be great,” Roquel insists, wiggling her body against me in barely repressed excitement. “You’ll see.”

I turn my gaze back to Mads. “You’re going too, right?” I ask. “Do you need a ride?”

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