Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“I know you will,” Binx says. “That’s why we’re here. But you’d better call Darcy soon. You know Daria. It’s only a matter of time before she escalates this in ridiculous and potentially dangerous ways. Just tell her that you and Tessa hooked up after you two broke up, beg her to talk her sister back from the edge before she does something even stupider than usual, and all will be well.”
My gaze shifts sharply to Tessa.
Tessa sighs and shakes her head, answering my unspoken question.
Binx glances between us, her brows pinching closer together. “You two did hook up after Wes and Darcy broke up, right?” She looks back and forth again, reading the guilt on our faces loud and clear. “Oh, shit. Guys! This is bad.”
“I know, I’m ashamed of myself,” Tessa whispers.
“You have nothing to be ashamed of,” I cut in. “You didn’t know I was in a relationship. This is my fault. Completely. I’ll explain that to Darcy. She hates me right now, but she’s a good person. She won’t blame you for something I did.”
Binx puffs her cheeks before exhaling a long, dubious breath.
I arch a brow her way. “You don’t think so? You know Darcy. She’s not the vengeful type.”
“Well, no, not usually,” Binx says. “But you’ve never confessed that you cheated on her before, either. She has every right to be pissed.” She glances toward Tessa. “And maybe she’ll realize that Tessa is blameless. Or, maybe she’ll join forces with her sister to make ‘the other woman’s’ life a living hell. There’s really no way of knowing. These situations make sane people crazy, let alone people who are already a little unhinged. It’s a key feature of the whole cheating thing.”
Tessa sinks lower in her chair with a groan, cuddling Freya to her stomach. “I never should have tried dating again. If I’d just stayed at home and out of the forest, this never would have happened. Wes never would have had to save me from that creep, we never would have shared a tent, and mistakes never would have been made.”
“Stop it,” Binx says before I can step in. “You’re a casualty of war, woman, not a terrorist. The only thing you possibly did wrong is tell Daria things she didn’t need to hear, but I can’t blame you. If someone had called me a fat, wrinkly old woman—multiple times, to my face—I’d probably be in jail right now. Who does that? I mean, where does she get the fucking ovaries to tear another woman down for no reason?”
“She said what?” I ask, heat rushing through my chest.
“She was just picking on me to get at Binx,” Tessa says. “She assumed we were together and was mocking Binx for dating an older woman.”
“Which is bullshit,” Binx says. “If I liked girls and we were dating, Tess, I’d be stoked. You’re a foxy snack with gorgeous curves and Disney princess hair. And who cares about age anyway? Love is love.”
“I agree,” I say.
“Well, obviously,” Binx says, rolling her eyes again. “We know you appreciate what Tessa has to offer. You appreciated it so much you acted like a dirty, cheating scoundrel. We don’t need your input on how amazing Tessa is. We need you to figure out what you’re going to say to Darcy. Personally, I’d recommend lying. I know that isn’t usually your style, but it’s the most merciful choice. That way Darcy never knows you cheated, Tessa doesn’t become more of a target, and Daria will move on to picking on someone else.”
“We could just say it happened this past October,” Tessa says. “Instead of the one before. That would be…mostly true.”
I sigh and drag a hand through my hair. “Yeah. That might be best. I don’t want to cause more damage than I have already. I’ll work on something and call Darcy in the morning.”
“This can’t wait, Wes,” Binx says. “That’s why we’re here. Daria is like a ticking time bomb. The more time you give her, the more likely she’s going to crawl in Tessa’s bedroom window and explode.”
“You can both stay here tonight,” I say. “I have extra clothes and toothbrushes and—”
“I can’t stay here,” Binx says. “I have a very important date with my bed tomorrow. I already have snacks in the pantry and a full season of Masters of Ink ready to binge. I need to wake up in my familiar, cozy place to enjoy my day of sloth.” She motions toward Tessa. “And I’m sure Tessa has a life, too. Or work or something.”
“I’m actually off for the next two weeks,” Tessa says, “but I’d rather get this settled and get home. I know I won’t sleep well with the Daria thing hanging over me.” She strokes the now sleeping Freya’s head. “And I don’t have food here for Freya.”