Page 165 of Between Passion and Revenge: Part One

“You know you want to be with Storm,” Yenn says flatly.

I press my lips together.

“Yennifer,” Ezra warns, trying to play neutral.

Yenn’s voice sharpens. “This is because ofhim, isn’t it? You’re throwing awayeverythingfor a boy.”

“It’s not just about him!” I shout, then wince. “But yeah. He’s part of it.”

Yenn stands up, hands on her hips. “You don’tknowhim, Shae. Not really. He’s rich, mysterious, and hot—but is hesteady? Is he gonna have your back when shit gets real? What are you going to do when he gets tired of you?”

Ouch. Fucking ouch.

“You don’t know that will happen,” I say, my voice trembling.

“No, girl.Youdon’t know what will happen because you don’t know this man! See, this is what happens when you go too long without dick. You get stupid whenever the closest one jumps next to you.”

“Hey!” I shout, still shaky from my shattered nerves.

“No, Shae. I love you and I’m your best friend. And as your best friend, I have to tell you when you’re being stupid as hell. Like, what the fuck are you thinking, Shae?”

“I don’t know!” I yell, my voice cracking again. “Idon’t fucking know, Yenn. But I want to find out.”

The silence that follows buzzes with unspoken fears and held-back truths.

Ezra mutters, “Can we all just take a breath before this turns into a Tyler Perry movie?”

Yenn blinks, and for the first time since I confessed my truth, her expression softens.

Just slightly.

“Okay,” she says, but I can tell her worry is still there.

And then…my stomach flips.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

“Oh shit,” I say, bolting to my feet.

“Shae?” Yenn calls after me, concern immediately replacing all her anger.

I don’t answer—I barely make it to the bathroom before I spew the entirety of my stomach contents into the toilet.

Violently.

Yenn’s right behind me, crouched down and pulling my curls away from my face. Ezra leans against the doorway with a pinched expression.

“Here,” he says, handing a wet washcloth to Yenn. “She looks pale as hell.”

“I’m fine,” I mumble, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, even though my entire body vibrates on a strange frequency.

“Maybe it’s stress,” Yenn murmurs, but there’s doubt in her voice.

Ezra raises an eyebrow. “Or maybe she’s knocked up.”

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