Page 60 of The Plan

“I’m busy, Sire. Fuck off.”Little shit.

“It’s important.” I’m close to dragging her off of his lap so she has three more seconds.

“I doubt it.”

I let out an annoyed breath. She obviously isn’t going to let me win this, so I glare at Asher and nod my head toward the door. He gets the message but doesn’t get up as fast as I want him to. He says something in her ear and then puts something in her hand. They both stand, and Vidia puts whatever it is in her bra. It looks like a key card to his hotel room, and I feel my jaw clenching.

I walk toward her as Asher passes me. “Green doesn’t look good on you, Gryffindor.” I’m wearing all black, so it’s obvious what she’s implying.

“I look good in everything. Your words, not mine.” I smile at the memory of her telling me that. It feels like a lot more years than just four.

“I also said you were a cock block—” I throw my cup of water in her face before she finishes her sentence. I wasn’t cock blocking shit because she wasn’t going to sleep with him.

She gasps and wipes the water off her face. “Are you fucking kidding me!?”

“You looked thirsty.” She snatches the cup from me, and in one quick move, she scoops up some of the pool water and throws it in my face. I should have expected that, so I’m not going to be too pissed about it.

“Oops.” I scoff at her and wipe my face with the front of my shirt. When she walks past me, I grab her arm and pull her in front of me. Our eyes lock, and without looking down, I grab the key card from in between her boobs.

When she goes to reach for it, I put my hand above my head. “I’m not about to play this game with you, Sire.”

“I don’t care. I just have two questions, then you can go.” She crosses her arms over her chest and waits for me to ask. I lookbetween her honey-brown eyes, mesmerized that even with the little bit of light out here, they still sparkle the same.

“How are you?”

She studies me, clearly confused. “That was your important question? Give me the damn card.” She goes to reach for it again, but I keep it over my head.

“Answer me.”

“I was fine until you came along.” I falter a bit, not sure if she meant when I came along tonight or in her life in general. I assume she notices, but she doesn’t correct herself, and it makes me fear her answer. I knew she hated me, but does she regret our good moments?

“Second question?” Unpleased with her first answer, I debate whether I should ask the second one or not. She taps her finger on her arm impatiently.

“Answer truthfully, Vid.” She lets out a sigh, and so do I because she’s so difficult.

“I’m fine. Why do you care so damn much? In case you suffered a brain injury when they hit you in the head earlier today, we’re not on good terms, and we never will be.” I smile at the reminder of literally getting a baseball smacked to my head at this afternoon's game. Thank God for my helmet.

“I care for the same reasons you still care about my addiction.” No matter our history, it doesn’t exist for her when it comes to my addiction, and it doesn’t exist for me when it comes to her shitty dad or her past with her friend whose death she still apparently blames herself for.

Her eyes soften a bit, and I can see her entire body relax. “I’ve been talking to Hazel. I cried. I’m fine…” Her eyes dart to the pool as she finishes. “Thank you for caring.” I give her a nod, although she still isn’t looking at me.

“Can you talk to me about it?” I ask my second question.

“No,” she answers quickly. I try not to show I’m offended, but I should’ve seen that coming. “Not unless I need to.” She adds, and then her eyes meet mine.

“Need to? You don’t want to?” She studies me for a second and shakes her head softly. Like she thought of something dumb.

“I don’t get it, Sire. We’re so hot and cold. You’re screaming at me one minute, then apologizing and wanting to talk the next.”

“I haven't screamed at you in…” I try to think of how long it’s been.

“Two weeks.” I look down at her and feel a smirk on my face.

“You’ve been counting?” I tease, and she rolls her eyes. “Come on, Vid. You know the shit you did to me is out the window when it comes to this.” Her gaze hardens again, and I wish I could alter my words.

“The shitIdid to you? Not the shit you did to me?” She reminds me that night and everything after it was my fault, and I shake my head at her.

“Don’t,” I say softly. “We were doing good.” She rolls her eyes and folds her arms across her chest again.

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