Page 13 of Unpredictable

Everyone turns and stares at me.

“What the hell—” Reed questions, but he is cut off by Sage stuffing a cookie into his mouth.

“Hey, V, I thought you were going to Sterling’s....” Tinsley trails off, looking at the others with concern then back to me.

“Plans change,” I tell them with a wave of my hand. “It’s no big deal.”

“Okay, at the risk of getting hit, you need to go wash your face. The black streaks all over makes you look like a poorly done clown,” Keaton throws out while backing away from everyone.

Tinsley and Sage gasp in outrage while Reed slowly grabs Sage around the waist, preventing her from maiming his brother.

I can’t help but laugh. “I’m sure I do.” I sigh, walking over to give Keaton a quick hug. “I’ll be right back. Have a drink waiting for me?” I ask while turning towards Tinsley’s room.

I make my way up the stairs, down the hall, into her room, and then into her en suite. I take a look in the mirror and can’t help but cringe.

Keaton wasn’t far off. I do resemble a clown.

Grabbing her makeup remover, I set to washing my makeup and my hurt down the drain.

Hold it together. Don’t tell them too much. They’re friends with him too.

Looking in the mirror, I find a fresh face. My eyes are a little red, but that’s to be expected. I wipe down the counter and head into Tinsley’s closet and grab a pair of lounge clothes that I’ve stashed here for nights I stay over.

No need for the lace.

Do I even like lace anymore?

Fuck Sterling Brooks and the horse he rode in on.

I growl in frustration and slap the light switch on my way out of the room and head back down the stairs.

After stomping my way into the kitchen, I jump up on the stool in front of a drink. I grab it without question and take a drink. “Hmm, I love a good margarita.” I sigh in satisfaction.

“We ordered Mexican food too. It should be delivered within the hour. I ordered your favorite,” Sage says.

“Bless you.”

“So…,” Reed begins.

“So…,” I mimic.

“We thought you had plans tonight,” Tinsley says softly.

I nod. “I did, but I was wrong.”

“I take it the arrangement you and Sterling had is over,” Sage surmises.

“Guess so.” I shrug.

She eyes me with concern, but I can’t hash this out right now. I’m drained.

“Wait, an arrangement? I thought you two were dating,” Keaton asks with confusion.

“We weren’t,” I snap.

“Might as well have been,” Sage argues back.

“You know why we weren’t,” I counter.

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