“Fine, I got you.” He wags a finger in my face. “But this is the last time.”

I’m totally okay with that. “Dea—”

“What’s the last time?” Cole interjects, sliding his arm around my waist.

Shoot. The hallway was empty twenty seconds ago.

“That she insists on tutoring me on a Saturday,” Oakley yells. “It’s fucking up my schedule. I’m done with this shit.”

I give Oakley a grateful smile.

“Dude, relax,” Cole exclaims. “Sawyer’s trying to help you graduate this time, remember?”

Oakley looks sheepish. “Yeah, I know.”

“Don’t worry, douchebag. She can’t tutor you this upcoming Saturday,” Bianca says as she joins our little circle.

Color me confused. “Why?”

“I need you to go shopping with me.”

I’d rather put a fork through my eye.

I look at Cole for help.

“She can’t. We have plans.”

Bianca’s eyes narrow. “It’s almost a week away. What kind of plans could you possibly have that I don’t know about?”

Good Lord. Stalker much?

Cole gives me a lopsided smile. “The kind that involve not having any clothes on.”

Bianca crinkles her nose. “Gross.”

I slap his arm. Just because we’re having sex—okay, great sex—doesn’t mean he has to announce it to the whole wide world. Or his sister.

“We’re going to the movies…and then Christian’s.”

It’s the only believable thing I can think of. Plus, we haven’t been there together since the shit hit the fan way back when, and I want to prove to everyone that Cole and I are doing just fine.

Put Casey and the rest of those shit-talking bitches in their place.

Bianca shakes her head. “No movies. What I have planned is going to take a while.”

Cole leans in, his breath tickling my ear. “What I have planned is going to take a while too.”

I fight back a shiver. Safe to say I much prefer his plans to hers.

Bianca whacks him with her notebook. “Again…gross.” She leans against my locker. “Look, big bro, I’m gonna make this real simple for you. Do you want me interfering in your relationship with Sawyer like I do with Jace and his skank?”

I glare at her. “Hey—”

“Fuck no,” Cole says.

“Great. Then keep your dick in your pants and let me steal your girl for one afternoon.”

“Bad idea, bro,” Oakley grumbles. “Trust me.”

Bianca flashes him some teeth. “Don’t worry, unlike Oakley’s hoes…I’ll give Sawyer back.” She blows me a kiss. “See you on Saturday, lover.”

Chapter 83

Sawyer

“Remind me again why we’re here?” Dylan grumbles as we walk into the store.

“Because Bianca asked if I would go shopping with her and I’m not going alone.”

It would be the equivalent of facing a firing squad.

“You know she hates me, right?”

Yup. It’s another reason I invited her.

As difficult as Bianca can be, I also consider her my friend. I’m hoping forcing my best friend and my new friend to hang out will end this feud between them for good.

Then we can all hang out.

“Just give her a chance, Dylan. She’s not so bad once you get to know her. Promi—”

“Hold up, I don’t recall ever inviting the murdering thot my brother’s fucking to join us.” Bianca interjects.

On second thought, maybe this was a bad idea.

Too late to turn back now.

I draw in several deep breaths before I address the elephant in the room. “What happened to Liam wasn’t her fault, Bianca. Deep down you know it’s true.”

She tosses the shirt she was appraising on a table. “I don’t want her here.”

Dylan throws her hands up. “Fine by me.”

She starts to leave, but I grab her arm. “Not so fast.” My gaze ping-pongs between them. “I know you two have your issues with each other, but you also have something very important in common.”

“Please,” Bianca exclaims. “I have nothing in common with her.”

“You both love Jace,” I remind her. “And it’s really not fair that the two most important women in his life are constantly bickering with each other.”

“It’s not my fault—” Dylan starts to say, but I shush her.

“I know.”

“It’s not my fault either,” Bianca argues.

I give her a look. The fighting is definitely her fault.

“Whatever. I’ll never forgive her for what she did.” Her features soften the tiniest bit. “But she can stay…I guess.”

It’s not much, but it’s something.

Dylan starts to protest but I whisper, “Take the olive branch.” I squeeze her hand. “For Jace.”

She looks up at the ceiling and huffs. “Fine.”

Bianca fingers a row of clothes on hangers. “What size are you, Church girl? I’ve already picked out a few things, but I want to make sure they’ll fit.”

I look at Dylan because Bianca can’t possibly be talking to me.

My eyes swivel around the trendy boutique. A single outfit here costs what I make in a week. “I thought we were shopping for you.”

“Do you really think I’d ever ask you to help me shop for clothes?” Clutching her chest, she snorts. “Oh, God. You did. That’s cute.”

“Yup,” Dylan mutters behind me. “The girl is a real peach.”

“Sorry, but this isn’t—I wasn’t planning on shopping today.” I wince when I notice the price tag on a dress she’s checking out. “And even if I was, this is not the place I would go. I can’t afford anything here.”

“Figured as much.” Bianca flashes me her credit card. “That’s why I brought this.”

She’s out of her mind. “I’m not letting you pay for my clothes.”

She makes an irritated noise in her throat. “Look, I really don’t do well with the whole back and forth thing. So, let’s skip the argument altogether and you do what I say.” She shoves a short white dress in my direction. “Go try this on.”

Not only does the dress look too small for me, it’s not my style…at all.

“No.”

She purses her lips. “We’re friends, right?”

I eye her warily. “Yeah.”

“Well, as your friend, I refuse to let you keep walking around looking like some kind of Amish homeless person.” Disgust fills her features. “It was adorable at first, but now not so much.”

“Gee thanks.”

“I’m not trying to insult you. I’m just being honest. Prom is five weeks away, and I promise you you’re going to feel worse than dog shit when Cole is crowned prom king, and Casey is crowned his queen. Again.” She goes back to rifling through racks of clothes. “Besides, I really need a new positive project to focus my energy on. Giving you a makeover is perfect.”