She leans closer in her seat. “What hurt?”
“The whole thing. I don’t know. It justhurtand not in a fun ‘Oh, I’m being beaten up, so now I feel alive’ kind of way.”
“Then in what way?”
“It was uncomfortable. As if I were kicked out of my own skin, stomped all over, then disallowed back into my body again. There was static and pain that flooded my senses all at once.”
“What do you think is the reason for that?”
“Osborn, of course! That creepy motherfucker! Don’t worry, though, I came up with a genius idea.”
She raises her brows.
I scoff. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Dr. Duret. Honestly, so touching.”
“Are you going to tell me about this idea?”
“I’m glad you asked. I stole his motorcycle!”
“Motorcycle?”
“Hell yeah.” I grin. “Okay, okay, let me take you back. After Osborn had the audacity—thegall—to make me feel like my skin didn’t fit, I spent the entire night walking the edge of the roof. Fun times. Naturally, Dad found out. Because Hayes is a traitor with a badge and a savior complex.
“Anyway! I pumped myself full of meds afterward, which meant, surprise, I couldn’t wake up the next morning and missed open skate. Cue Kane and Jude getting their panties in a twist. Jude practically kidnapped me for the whole week to ‘monitor’ me and make sure I took my meds on time. Dramatic, right?
“What was I talking about again?” I clap my hands together. “Oh, right! Osborn. I was brainstorming the best revenge, and obviously, the first idea was sleeping with his girlfriend. Classic. But plot twist—he doesn’t fucking have one. Not even an on-and-off someone. The man is as romantically barren as Stantonville’s economy. So that wasn’t fun.
“So then I thought—what does he actually care about? Andboom. The motorcycle. So Hayes and I went to their shitty Stantonville college parking lot and stole it. Hayes cried the entire time, insisting it was ‘not a good idea’ and ‘below his pay grade,’ but he’s a Goody Two-shoes, so his opinion is worth approximately nothing.”
I hold up a finger like I’m presenting a prize on a game show. “But we got it. Oh, we got it. Right before I came here. Osborn is probably losing his fucking mind as we speak. He spent money and hours custom-building his precious littleFrankenbike. Apparently, he works part-time as a mechanic just to get employee discounts and mess with bike parts. Yes, it’s a shit bike, but it’s a one-of-a-kind shit bike. And now—poof. Gone. Thanks to my genius.”
I laugh, feeling somewhat lighter now that I got back at the prick.
Forget about women. He loves that bike more than women, and if it’s gone, he’ll be hurt the worst.
“What happens now?” Dr. Duret asks in her usual monotone voice. So much for celebrating my wins, I guess.
“He’ll come crawling to me and beg, the way he was supposed to from the start instead of picking ‘antagonize Preston.’ Bold choice. Wrong one, but bold.”
“Why do you believe you went through all this trouble just to have him come find you…hold on. Let me word that differently.” She sits taller. “If you feel so uncomfortable around Osborn, why do you want him to come find you?”
“To make him beg me so I’ll give him his bike back. I just said that. Focus, Dr. Duret.”
“Do you want to feel a sense of power over him?”
“Yeah, that.” I snap my fingers in her direction. “No one offends me and gets away with it.”
“Do you believe you’re making it too personal?”
“He’s the one who did that when he targeted me in the game. Whose side are you on anyway? You’re my doctor, not his. Believe me, he can’t afford you, so don’t go biting the hand that feeds you.”
My phone vibrates, and I pull it out as I stand up, a grin curving my lips. “Hold that thought. Good talk, Dr. Duret. You tell my dad or Julian any of this, and I’ll strangle you with your precious plants.Compris?”
She doesn’t recoil. Just keeps staring at me with her usualexpression. Guess I’ve been threatening her with murder for so long, she doesn’t take me seriously anymore.
I walk out of her house, staring at the screen.
So right after I stole Osborn’s bike, I had to tell him. Otherwise, how would he know it was me and not some other thief?
