The Arrangement Anthology 2(86)

That makes me spew. “Marty!” Sexy cowboy Marty was the funniest thing I’d ever seen and I would have laughed if I didn’t want to kill him at the time.

He pushes a napkin at me and wipes my sputtered chocolate spittle off his hands. “I’m serious. I’ll be your backup plan. If you say yes to Black, I’ll take you no matter how many things you’ve done—or who you’ve done. Tell me I’m good enough to be Plan B, Avery. I’ll get you the white picket fence and we can name the dog Bob. What do you say?” He holds out his hand, like his offer is serious.

That’s when I realize it is. He wants me anyway he can take me, and if I go through with Black’s job no one will want me. It’ll mean that I’ve left Sean, because if I chose Black over him, he’ll never forgive me.

Reaching out, I take Marty’s hand and shake. “Deal. I’m your picket fence wife. When everything turns to shit, you’ll sweep me off my feet.”

He smiles and follows it up with a wink. “You know it.”





CHAPTER 13



I spend the rest of the day hanging out with Marty. My phone rings right after we eat dinner. It’s Black. “Hello?”

“Go to your dorm room and wait. Ferro will be there shortly.” The line goes dead.

I sigh, and slump back into my seat before pushing my hair out of my face. “Can you drop me back off at the dorm?”

Marty looks confused. “I thought you were supposed to stay away from there.”

“I am, but Black said Sean will be there.”

Marty nods and pays the tab. He drops me off at the tower and drives away after I go inside. I stand at the bottom of the stairwell, not wanting to face all the jeers that will come when I go up. I decide to grab a drink first and then go up with Sean.

I push through the door and walk to the nearest bar, which is a bit of hike. Cars zoom past me and I worry that each one will try to put a hole in my head. I text Sean and tell him where to meet me.

He replies: No. Go to your room.

That makes me laugh. I text back: Make me.

Then I pocket my phone and don’t answer when he calls. Yes, I’m acting like a petulant child, but he can deal with it. I shove inside and go to a back corner so no one can walk behind me.

The waiter is really hot. He takes my order and brings it right over. “Rough day?” he asks after setting down the vodka in front of me.

“Rough life. Bring a few more of those in a moment.”

Hot guy smiles at me. “Yes, ma’am.”

I down the drink and only gag a little bit. By the time my third drink is in hand, Sean is in the doorway. He looks pissed and beautiful. His shoulders are squared and his jaw is locked. A dark shirt clings to his chest beneath the leather jacket he loves so much. Blue jeans fit snuggly to his hips and he has on his shit-kicker boots.

Sean glances around the room until he sees me. He takes a few long strides, pulls out a chair, and sits down. “Make me?”

My eyes cut over to Sean. “That’s what I said.”

“Listen, you can hate me all you want tomorrow. We have this set up. I have a box to sneak you out with, but people need to see you walk into the room. Black’s men are in place. You go in and come out. Nothing bad will happen to you. I promise.” Sean takes my hands when he says the last two words. “We have to do this.”

I nod slowly and finally feel the effects of the alcohol. “I know, but I’m not doing it sober. Claustrophobic girls don’t belong in boxes, not unless they’re tanked. So here we go.” I knock back another drink and accidentally breathe wrong which makes my nose feel like it’s caught fire. I choke and reach for my glass of water.

“Lightweight.”

“Much better than being a fat whore. A skinny one is preferable, right? Salute.” I hold up my next shot glass to him as he gives me a quizzical look.

“What are you talking about?”

“The videos of me sexting Naked Guy. It turns out that Amber didn’t delete all of them and this morning she passed around her phone to half the floor and I got to stand there while she did it.”

Wrath blazes in Sean’s eyes. He stands abruptly and takes my wrist. “Let’s go. We’ll handle this.”

I pull away. “Fuck, no. I’ll handle this. I’m going to kick her ass and throw her out the window. Then, I’ll climb into my box and let your people clean up the mess.” I down another drink before he can pull me away, but most of it spills on the floor. “Sean,” I whine his name before dropping the glass on the floor.

The waiter starts to say something. He walks over in front of Sean, but Sean shoves two hundred bucks in his hand. “Sorry about the mess.”