Page 79 of Degradation
‘You’re welcome, beautiful.’
SHADE
I get back late after another shitshow day full of problems. It’s one thing after another right now and all I really want to do is fall into my bed and sleep for years.
My phone buzzes, but I don’t look at it.
Instead, I shuck my jacket. Sitting heavily at my desk, I let out the yawn that’s been hovering for the past few minutes.
My phone buzzes again and I let out a curse, ripping it out of my pants pocket.
It’s from my father. He wants to see me tomorrow.
Fuck.
That’s all I need. I frown as I stare at my phone, wondering if someone tattled about Daisy and Halloween. Is that why he wants to see me, and, if so, how am I going to spin it?
I get up and go across the hall to Daisy’s room, letting myself in with a silence and ease borne of experience. Inside is dark, but I can make out the shape of her in bed. My eyes narrow in the darkness. There’s someone else with her. The jealousy that grips me takes me by surprise. Who is she with? Someone from one of her classes? A coworker from the coffee shop? One of the guys from Dagorhir? My stomach clenches and so do my fists as I put on my phone’s light and shine it at the bed.
I almost drop it in panic when I see two eyes shining back at me and then I take a second look. The jealousy burns out and I’m left with confusion. If there was a list of everyone who might be in Daisy’s bed, Blake would be last on it. I don’t think he’s spent any longer with a girl than it took to get off since I’ve known him. What is he doing?
‘What is it?’ Blake whispers.
‘Nothing.’
He gets up, being careful not to wake Daisy as he does. He pads over to me, and I move back out into the hallway.
He steps out with me and pulls the door closed.
‘Just watching your sister sleep?’ he whispers with a smirk. ‘Yeah, that’s not creepy at all.’
‘I wasn’t– She’s not my sister and stop calling her that,’ I hiss. ‘It’s weird.’
‘Because you think she’s hot?’
Yes.
‘No.’ I sound petulant, even to myself, and he chuckles low.
‘You’re wondering why I’m in there.’
‘Yeah, I am.’ I lean back against the wall. ‘What do you want from her, Blake? You know she’s not like the other girls you usually go for.’
He gestures with his head in the direction she is. ‘She asked me.’
‘Have you fucked her?’ I grind out, not sure what I’m going to do if he has.
‘No,’ he replies after a moment. ‘And I’m not going to.’
I try to stifle my sigh of relief. Why I’m thankful, I don’t know. She’s a big girl and she can make her own decisions. But I sort of wish she’d choose...
‘Not until we get to know each other better.’
I break away from my out-of-control thoughts.
‘What?’ I mutter. ‘You don’tget to knowgirls. You just sleep with them and then show them the door, Blake.’
‘What do you want with her?’ I ask again.
