Maybe it’s time to broaden my horizons, maybe make a few friends so shit like this doesn’t happen.
Eh, fuck it. More friends equal more drama. I’m all good. I should probably go and grab a vacuum and spend the next few hours vacuuming every single room that surrounds Laurelle’s just to drive that bitch insane. Hell, maybe I’ll just turn it on and walk away.
I dip my spoon down into the tub of ice cream and slip it into my mouth, dying of satisfaction as my taste buds burst in excitement. There's nothing better than oreo ice cream. It’s simply the best thing that was ever created and I will fight to the death against anyone who even attempts to challenge that. It's a fact. Just like the earth is round, the sun rises in the east, Massimo Torricelli is going to be my baby daddy, and oreo ice cream is the best.
Hearing footsteps out in the hall, I dump the tub down beside me on the counter and jump off, landing wobbly on my feet after sitting cross-legged for way too long.
I hurry out into the hall and look out, expecting to see Colton striding toward me, only the noise is coming from behind.
My heart rate kicks up as I spin around and come face to face with Spencer.
There are only two rooms down that end of the hall—Colton’s home gym and Charles’ wine cellar, and judging by the grim look on his face, there’s only one place that he’s coming from.
He knows.
He knows what I did to Jude. He saw the cuts, the stab wound, the dried blood that sits beneath his nails. He knows what I did and from the dark flare in his eyes, he knows that I’m more than aware of where he’s just been, yet neither of us says a damn word.
It’s like a secret that sits heavily between us but neither of us is willing to admit it out loud despite knowing exactly where each other sits in this fucked-up situation, and I have a feeling that’s how it’s going to stay. Once something gets said out loud, it makes it real even though we’ve both seen things and done things that should never have had to be done.
Spencer silently steps around me and enters the massive kitchen and I find myself following, feeling a strange camaraderie floating between us. It’s a feeling that I’ve never really gotten with Spencer before. It’s as though all of a sudden, we’re in this exclusive, dark club together, one that’s hosted by Colton. I mean, should we all get matching tattoos now? Get branded and make a vow to take this secret to the grave?
Spencer scoops my tub of ice cream off the counter and leans back against it while helping himself to what’s mine. “So, Laurelle and the twins haven’t run you out of here yet?”
Oh, okay. So we’re literally going to pretend that the Jude situation doesn’t exist. I can get on board with that. I jump back up onto the counter and get comfortable before snatching the tub out of his unsuspecting hands. “They’re not smart enough to know how to run me out of here,” I inform him, looking at him pointedly with a smug grin. “None of you were.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” he says with a scoff. “I have to admit, I didn’t like you much at first but your annoying little screechy whine has grown on me.”
“My screechy whine?” I gasp. “You and I both know that you’re the only one with a screechy whine around here.”
“Moooooooom,” comes a drawn-out squeal from upstairs by one of the twins.
“I stand corrected,” I grumble.
“They’ll come around,” Spencer promises me, but the lie is all too obvious in his tone. We both know that Cora and Casey are not the type to ‘come around.’ They’re the fight till the death type just like me, only unfortunately for them, they’re now playing in a whole new league, one they’re not strong enough to win, not even with their combined twin power.
I give Spencer a blank stare and he bursts into laughter. “Yeah, that didn’t even feel convincing coming out of my mouth,” he admits. “You’re going to be up against those girls for as long as you live. Even if you and Colton break up. They’ll never stop tearing you down until they win and when it comes to you, I have a feeling those girls will never win.”
“Never.”
“Though, to be fair,” he continues. “I didn’t think you were ever going to come around.”
“Me?” I laugh. “I didn’t come around, Spencer. You idiots just realized that if you can’t beat me, it’s best to join me.”
“Bullshit. You’re the one who realized that if you wanted to live peacefully here that you were going to need to reel in your attitude.”
“Dude, my attitude is still shining bright. It didn’t get reeled in at all. Besides, I think it’s more like you realized that if you didn’t climb aboard the Ocean train that you were going to get left behind. I had Charlie wrapped around my finger in a matter of days and Colton … well, he was mine the second I walked through the door. And as much as I’d rather not admit it, Jude wanted me too. You had no choice but to accept me or be left out in the dark. Just face it, I’m a force to be reckoned with.”
Spencer looks back at me, playfully narrowing his eyes. “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”
I roll my eyes and dig my spoon deep into my ice cream again. “You’re an idiot,” I tell him around my full mouth. “You know that, right?”
“Ughhhh. Anyone can tell that you didn’t grow up around here,” he says, scrunching his face in disgust. “Where are your manners? Don’t you chicks take etiquette classes or some shit like that? Ice cream is going everywhere. Close your damn mouth.”
I roll my tongue around my mouth, making a point of not giving a shit. “This is as good as it’s gonna get,” I laugh. “Loosen up, Spence. Trust me, it’ll look good on you. Who knows, people might even start to like you then.”
“Ha. Ha.”
A noise sounds outside the kitchen before Colton’s deep voice is hollered through the impeccable mansion. “Jade, where are you?”
I look over at Spencer as a wide grin spreads across my face. “Kitchen,” I call back and rise to my feet on the counter.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Spencer questions, looking up at me with a fearful suspicion.
I glance up at the cupboard above the massive fridge. “Lift me up there.”
His brows dip as his face crunches in distaste. “What? No.”
I throw myself at him, leaving him no choice but to either catch me or let my stubborn ass fall to the floor. And just as I knew they would, his survival instincts kick in, and he catches me with ease. “Get off me,” he grunts as I try to claw my way up his body to reach the top cupboard.
“Shut up and shove me in the cupboard. The more you complain, the longer it’s going to take.”
Spencer groans low and giving up his fight, hauls me up as high as he can go. I laugh to myself as I get my feet up on his shoulders and do my best to open the cupboard. “Fuck me,” he grunts. “You’re not as light as you look.”
I scoff under my breath. “Maybe you just don’t log enough hours in the gym like Colton does. That man can throw me around with one hand and you’re here struggling while I do all the hard work.”
Spencer ignores my jab and shoves his hands up against my ass before giving me a hard shove and sending me soaring into the back of the cupboard. A sharp laugh tears out of me as I slam into the back wall and try to adjust myself into a little ball so the cupboard doors can be closed. “Holy shit, dude. I think I just put a hole in the wall with my head.”