painted dark plum.
Just looking at her pissed me off.
Not only because she was a backstabbing traitor who literally slut-shamed me to the entire Alpha U campus… but because she cut her hair.
In the exact style I was planning on getting for fall.
Bitch.
Her dark, glossy locks no longer hung past her chest. She’d gotten many inches cut off so they ended around her collarbone. It was slightly layered to give it a playful look, and she curled it in loose waves.
It was the perfect lob.
(Lob = long bob)
The total “in” haircut for fall.
I’d never admit it, but it looked good. Too bad she couldn’t just cut off the shitty parts of her personality too.
Braeden seemed surprised to see her and looked between us for long seconds like he wasn’t sure what to expect. Like maybe a catfight would break out and I’d claw out her eyes.
Please.
I was too good for that.
I gave her a withering look, hoping it conveyed the way I felt, and hefted my Marc Jacobs bag a little higher on my shoulder.
Something shifted behind her eyes, almost like regret, but I wasn’t about to fall for that. Missy was a great actress, something she’d proved many times over. If she wanted me to think she felt bad for all the shit she pulled, it wasn’t going to work.
I noted several people watching the quiet scene between us, and I pulled in a breath. The last thing I was going to do was give people more to gossip about. Especially with the #BuzzBoss standing right here.
Braeden backtracked to me and wrapped his hand around mine. His fingers squeezed, offering me silent support and comfort.
I looked at him and smiled.
When my eyes went back to her, I could have sworn the bitter bite of jealousy was written on her face, but I couldn’t be sure with only a quick glimpse. Braeden moved gracefully, once again angling himself in front of me so I couldn’t study her facial expressions.
Missy seemed to shake herself and start moving. Even with B blocking me from view, I felt her scrutinizing eyes staring at me through him.
Our paths neared, the distance between my old best friend and me closing by the second. I looked off to the side.
“Ivy.”
I glanced over.
She’d somehow gotten herself in view of me. Her perfectly glossed lips parted—to say what, I didn’t know.
Braeden made a sound and tucked me behind him. He really needed to stop with all the macho protection, but in the moment, I was grateful for it. I still wasn’t quite ready to face her. Deep down, I had a lot to say to her… I just wasn’t sure what it was. It was like all my feelings had yet to be transposed into words.
“Walk away,” he growled low. “Walk away right fucking now.”
Missy’s gray eyes widened slightly. She glanced at me like I was going to help her.
I looked away again.
A heartbeat went by, and then she brushed past, leaving behind a cloud of her signature scent, Clinique Happy .
Yes, I thought that was ironic.
Braeden relaxed and took my hand again. “Coffee, then home?”
I nodded, still recovering from our almost confrontation.
Funny how someone that used to make me feel so comfortable and relaxed now had the power to twist my guts and make me feel sick inside.
As we stood in line to order, I stared at the door, surprised she wanted to say anything at all. The last time we talked—when I found out everything she’d done and confronted her—she couldn’t get away fast enough.
She had nothing to say then.
What could she possibly have to say now?
Chapter Six
Braeden
Life is heavy.
Secrets are costly.
The lines between right and wrong get blurred.
But the reason for it all…
Still remained.
As clear as ever.
I gazed at her in the quiet early light of the room. The pillow she lay on cradled her head gently while sun-colored strands cascaded across her shoulder and trailed over the white sheet. She looked more vulnerable like this. Asleep and with her guard down, her face scrubbed free of all makeup and expression. The
Just looking at her pissed me off.
Not only because she was a backstabbing traitor who literally slut-shamed me to the entire Alpha U campus… but because she cut her hair.
In the exact style I was planning on getting for fall.
Bitch.
Her dark, glossy locks no longer hung past her chest. She’d gotten many inches cut off so they ended around her collarbone. It was slightly layered to give it a playful look, and she curled it in loose waves.
It was the perfect lob.
(Lob = long bob)
The total “in” haircut for fall.
I’d never admit it, but it looked good. Too bad she couldn’t just cut off the shitty parts of her personality too.
Braeden seemed surprised to see her and looked between us for long seconds like he wasn’t sure what to expect. Like maybe a catfight would break out and I’d claw out her eyes.
Please.
I was too good for that.
I gave her a withering look, hoping it conveyed the way I felt, and hefted my Marc Jacobs bag a little higher on my shoulder.
Something shifted behind her eyes, almost like regret, but I wasn’t about to fall for that. Missy was a great actress, something she’d proved many times over. If she wanted me to think she felt bad for all the shit she pulled, it wasn’t going to work.
I noted several people watching the quiet scene between us, and I pulled in a breath. The last thing I was going to do was give people more to gossip about. Especially with the #BuzzBoss standing right here.
Braeden backtracked to me and wrapped his hand around mine. His fingers squeezed, offering me silent support and comfort.
I looked at him and smiled.
When my eyes went back to her, I could have sworn the bitter bite of jealousy was written on her face, but I couldn’t be sure with only a quick glimpse. Braeden moved gracefully, once again angling himself in front of me so I couldn’t study her facial expressions.
Missy seemed to shake herself and start moving. Even with B blocking me from view, I felt her scrutinizing eyes staring at me through him.
Our paths neared, the distance between my old best friend and me closing by the second. I looked off to the side.
“Ivy.”
I glanced over.
She’d somehow gotten herself in view of me. Her perfectly glossed lips parted—to say what, I didn’t know.
Braeden made a sound and tucked me behind him. He really needed to stop with all the macho protection, but in the moment, I was grateful for it. I still wasn’t quite ready to face her. Deep down, I had a lot to say to her… I just wasn’t sure what it was. It was like all my feelings had yet to be transposed into words.
“Walk away,” he growled low. “Walk away right fucking now.”
Missy’s gray eyes widened slightly. She glanced at me like I was going to help her.
I looked away again.
A heartbeat went by, and then she brushed past, leaving behind a cloud of her signature scent, Clinique Happy .
Yes, I thought that was ironic.
Braeden relaxed and took my hand again. “Coffee, then home?”
I nodded, still recovering from our almost confrontation.
Funny how someone that used to make me feel so comfortable and relaxed now had the power to twist my guts and make me feel sick inside.
As we stood in line to order, I stared at the door, surprised she wanted to say anything at all. The last time we talked—when I found out everything she’d done and confronted her—she couldn’t get away fast enough.
She had nothing to say then.
What could she possibly have to say now?
Chapter Six
Braeden
Life is heavy.
Secrets are costly.
The lines between right and wrong get blurred.
But the reason for it all…
Still remained.
As clear as ever.
I gazed at her in the quiet early light of the room. The pillow she lay on cradled her head gently while sun-colored strands cascaded across her shoulder and trailed over the white sheet. She looked more vulnerable like this. Asleep and with her guard down, her face scrubbed free of all makeup and expression. The
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