“Of course. I’m just saying…”
“He won’t learn if I roll over.”
“Aaahh, so this is a teaching moment?”
“That and I’m plotting.”
“You are? Looked like you were watching random videos on YouTube to me.”
“Well, I wasn’t.” I turn to him as I switch off the TV, altering my hold on Salome because he’s ready to conk out. “I don’t like Derek Dyers.”
“Agreed. He’s a cuntwaffle and I thought that before the mess at Dopie’s. I still can’t believe he was going to hit Denver and Lex.”
“Why not? He raped a woman.”
He concedes that with a frown. “You’ll have to accept that the Veronians aren’t angels if you want to go ahead with this plan of yours.”
“I don’t want to work with angels. I never said that. But I have my limitations.”
“You didn’t before.”
“I did. I was just coming to terms with everything. Wynter and I already discussed our manifesto. Then Friday night happened…”
“It’s not like you can change anything. All you can do is drop out.”
“Ha. Since when do I drop out of anything? No. Now that Alec’s keeping quiet, there has to be a way to take them down from the inside out, one by one, and then use their demotions as a promotion for myself.”
Shay clucks his tongue. “When I hit the primaries, I need you to plan my campaign.”
“Of course. Katina and I have been talking about that for a long time.”
His brows lift. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
“Nothing should surprise you about us.” I waggle the remote at him. “Now, either watch something with me, go upstairs, or just be quiet. I’m percolating.”
“A watched pot never boils.”
“Bullshit. I have patience on my side as well as a human pitbull.”
“Who you’re not talking to…”
“I’m not talking to him right now,” I correct. “Negative reinforcement, Shay. Pick up a book and read about it.”
He groans. “Can’t you argue about this at your own place? I wanted to study?—”
“You need to leave the house more.”
“So this is you doing me a favor?”
“Aren’t I a great friend? Go hang out at Wynter’s. You can get all cozy with her there.”
He bursts out laughing. “Please tell me you’re not implying what I think you’re implying.”
“She has a crush on you.”
“Um, no, she doesn’t. I don’t have one on her either. She’s in love with this dude who’s a priest.”
“An actual one?!”
