Home > Enemy Dearest(5)

Enemy Dearest(5)
Author: Winter Renshaw

I know the one. I’ve seen it dozens of times. But the windows have always been too dark to see who was seated behind the steering wheel.

Now I know.

“It’s a piece of shit,” he says, emotionless. “Pretty to look at. Nothing under the hood worth writing home about.”

Damn. Bad blood?

I’d always heard Monreaux were thick as thieves, but I’d never considered they’d have an ounce of inner turmoil. Perhaps they’re competitive with one another? Most brothers are.

Adriana and I exchange looks, and she gives an awkward chuckle. “Um, okay. So … your total today is thirteen hundred dollars and fifty-two cents.”

He slides a black card across the counter, equidistant between Adriana and myself. We both reach at the same time, hands colliding.

“Sorry, go ahead,” I say to her. If ever there was a time to pray for a customer rush, it’s now. But the store is dead. It’s just the three of us now. The assistant manager is hiding in the back somewhere, as per usual.

She swipes the card, tapping her fingers to the beat of the pop song playing from ceiling speakers while we wait. “I heard your brother used to throw the most bomb parties at your house. My cousin has, like, the craziest stories.” The register spits out a receipt and Adriana hands him a pen. “I think he said this one time, you brother—”

“—my brother’s parties sucked,” he says. “All those rumors you’ve heard, he probably started those himself. No one fucking likes Gannon.”

Adriana bites her lip. “Damn. Okay.”

“Speaking of parties, I’m having one this weekend. Friday.” He signs his receipt, his silvery gaze flicking to mine. “You two should stop by.”

My heart slams to my feet.

I’m not sure what his end game is here, but I have no desire to be part of it. Last night was a mistake. The kind of thing you do when you’re young and dumb and delirious from a mild case of heat stroke.

My “no thanks” intersects with Adriana’s “oh-my-god-yes.”

She elbows me.

“I’m sorry,” August says, turning to me. “I didn’t quite catch that.”

“I can’t. But thank you,” I say.

His head cocks, eyes narrowing into an incredulous squint. “You can’t? Or you don’t want to?”

“Sher, come on. It’ll be fun,” Adriana says. “Just tell your parents you’re staying at my place.”

August studies me.

“Seriously, it’s not a big deal. And you don’t even have to drink or anything … I’ve always wanted to see the Monreaux mansion … could be pretty epic …” Adriana continues to try to sell me on something I refuse to buy. If working with her the past six months has taught me anything, it’s that she’s relentless when it comes to getting what she wants. It’s why she’s our top salesperson. She could convince the most discerning soul that the sky is glittering olive green, and they wouldn’t bat a lash when she’s done. “It would be a dream come true for me.”

August smirks.

I’m glad he finds this entertaining.

“I will literally die if you don’t go, Sher,” Adriana continues. Half joking. Half not.

“You don’t want that on your conscience, do you … Sher?” August interjects. My name on his tongue is velvet smooth, sending shivers down my arm.

Ripping a piece of paper from a nearby note pad, August scribbles five numbers. “Party starts at nine. Here’s the gate code for the night.”

“Awesome.” Adriana folds the note and places it in her back pocket like it’s the most precious thing in the world. “We’ll definitely see you then …”

August gives me a lingering glance before showing himself out, and the moment he’s gone, I exhale the longest, hardest breath.

“Okay, what’s up with you?” Adriana asks when we’re alone. “Why are you acting so weird?”

“I was up late last night.” I grab a bottle of Windex and a roll of paper towels and wipe the already flawless display case behind us. “Just … tired.”

“Too tired to realize we just got invited to the freaking Monreaux mansion?” If her brows were any higher they’d be in her hairline. “Do you realize how huge that is? And how epic that night will be? I mean, I’ve only heard stories, but, like … all you can drink booze, weed, hot guys, good music, a pool … it’s the perfect summer party.”

I toss a used paper towel in the trash. “Yeah, but that’s not really my thing.”

“Which is exactly why you should go.”

“Feel free to go without me. Seriously. Go and have a good time. You can tell me all about it at work next weekend.”

Lifting a hand to her hip, she exhales. “Okay, fine. I know it’s not your scene, but will you at least go for me? This is literally a once-in-a-lifetime invite, and I want to have the time of my life. I want to get stupid wasted. And if I don’t know anyone … I need a safety buddy. Or something.”

“A safety buddy?” I laugh.

“Just, someone to make sure no one slips me a roofie or whatever. Just follow me around like a shadow and make sure I don’t do anything I’m going to regret the next day.”

“No offense, but that sounds like a terrible time to me.”

“Okay, then just go with me, and we’ll grab a couple drinks, sit by the pool, and stare at all the hot people doing stupid shit.” She shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Just to be able to say we’ve been there, even if it’s for an hour, would be amazing. It’s literally on my bucket list.”

“No it’s not.”

“It is now.”

I chuckle, shaking my head and returning the Windex to the cabinet beneath the register. “Can I think about it?”

“No because I know you, and this is your way of buying time and hoping I drop it or forget about it or let it go,” she speaks so fast I can hardly keep up. “But that’s not going to happen.”

“What about your friend … what’s her name? Molly? Can she go with you?”

“Molly’s in Indiana this week visiting her grandma or some shit like that. And before you bring up anyone else, Christa’s working Friday night, Harper’s going to be with her boyfriend like she is every second of every freaking day, and Lydia and I are no longer on speaking terms as of last Thursday. Sorry, chica, but you’re my only option.”

“Adriana.” I tuck my chin. “Please don’t put this on me.”

She clasps her hands. “I will get on my knees and beg if that’s what it takes. I’ll take any weekend shift you want. I’ll pay you. I will give you my next paycheck in full.”

“I don’t want your money. And I need my shifts.”

“Then what’s the issue? Are you worried about what you’re going to wear? Just come to my place and we’ll get ready together. We can walk there, and I’ll have my sister pick us up when she gets off work.”

“Your sister who bartends?”

“Yeah.”

I lift a brow. “Doesn’t she work until three AM?”

Hot Books
» House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1)
» A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
» From Blood and Ash (Blood And Ash #1)
» A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime
» Deviant King (Royal Elite #1)
» Den of Vipers
» House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City #2)
» The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air #
» Sweet Temptation
» The Sweetest Oblivion (Made #1)
» Chasing Cassandra (The Ravenels #6)
» Wreck & Ruin
» Steel Princess (Royal Elite #2)
» Twisted Hate (Twisted #3)
» The Play (Briar U Book 3)