She turns a scowl to Ryder’s back, then looks at me again. “Was he being a jerk again?”
Not wanting to talk about it, I shrug. “It’s nothing I’m not used to already. Don’t worry about it.”
“I’ll tell Aiden to kick his ass if you want me to?” Nova says softly, so Ryder can’t hear her.
I snort out an unamused laugh and shake my head. “It’s fine.I’mfine. Where to next?”
Olivia hums as she thinks over the options, then says, “How about we visit the Halloween store?”
I nod. I wouldn’t mind walking through the store and seeing what all they have stocked for this year. There’s always something there that I can use year-round. Plus, it’ll be fun to make some spooky-sexy content with whatever I get from the store.
We make the long trek to the parking lot. Ryder and Jaxon linger behind us, talking softly. Dahlia joins us girls, already fitting in and occasionally adding comments while Olivia and Nova talk. I’m not paying close enough attention to the topic since I’m so lost in my thoughts.
“Oh my god!” a woman yells.
My head pops up, and I look around the parking lot. My gaze lands on a familiar face, and I scrunch my nose.
“Is that Kaila?” Nova whispers with a curl of her lip. It’s an honest reaction and one that I can’t judge her for.
“Crap, she’s coming toward us.” Olivia squares her shoulders and sucks in a deep breath as she mentally prepares for this unwanted run-in with the snake.
Kaila struts toward us, her red hair dancing around her shoulders in the breeze. Her clothing choices haven’t changed since I last saw her, which was graduation day. She still wears expensive name brands that are bland and not all that great looking. There’s no personality to them.
Jaxon steps forward and positions himself in front of Dahlia, his hands shoved into his pockets to make it appear that he’s relaxed. His tense shoulders and pinched lips say otherwise. Ryder surprises me as he comes to my side, leaving an inch of space between us so our arms don’t touch.
The guys know how terrible Kaila is. She was Mickey’s right hand and always partook in bullying my brother and his friends. All because she was obsessed with my ex, which meant doing anything to get his attention.
Kaila slows her steps, and she puts on a show of excitement with her huge grin and spread arms. “Hey, besties! It’s so good to see you here. God, it’s been, what, like, three years?”
“Yeah,” Olivia drawls with an eyebrow raised.
Kaila glances at her, then slips her attention to Dahlia. Her fake smile tightens, and her eyes lose the minimal warmth in them.
“You got a problem?” Jaxon’s expression doesn’t change. He may look bored, but violence rolls off of him in toxic clouds.
Kaila turns to Jaxon and broadens her smile, which is all teeth and no humor. “Not at all. Just saying hi to some old friends.”
I bite my tongue so I don’t say anything snarky to her. If there’s one thing I don’t want to be, it’s a mean girl.
Ryder glances at our friend group, then turns back to Kaila. “Old friends? I don’t see old friends anywhere. You sure you aren’t lost?”
My eyes round like saucers, and my jaw drops.
Kaila’s eyes narrow, but she forces a smile that only makes her appear like she’s lost her mind. “You know, I was going to play nice and leave the past where it belongs—in the past—but it looks like you’re still the same loser you were years ago. Aren’t you a little too old to be dressing like an emo? Wear something more mature and slit your wrists in private.”
My blood simmers into a boiling rage, sparking into a blazing fire.
Ryder doesn’t blink or look affected by Kaila’s insult. “Bold of you to act like this is your kingdom. Do you believe there won’t be consequences for throwing your weight around?”
Kaila’s face scrunches, and she tilts her head. “The hell are you saying?”
“Fuck around,” Jaxon says in a dead voice. He creeps closer to her, with his hands balling into tight fists. “And find out.”
Are they seriously threatening to beat her up?
“Where’s your crew?” Ryder smirks. “Or did they ditch you for tighter pussy?”
Kaila gives him the stink face. “You’re an asshole.” She glances at Jaxon, then at me. “Whatever. I’m out of here. I see you have clearly switched sides and become one of the losers.”
