Page 206 of The Villain We Tempt

“You’ve sworn off men?”

“Oh, I’m not switching teams or anything. But…yeah,” she grumbles. “Thank you very much, Bryce fuck-face Donahue and Carly Presioso the boyfriend stealing cunt.”

My face sours as I reach over to squeeze her hand. “He didn't deserve you.”

“Well obviously.”

We both giggle.

“But what were you going to say?” I prod. “If you hadn’t sworn off guys…?”

She grins. “Oh, yeah. I think if I was going to date anyone, I’d date an older guy. Experienced, you know?”

I grin. “Howis itplaying house with Laz?”

She turns scarlet as she rolls her eyes. “Ew. Don’t be gross.”

I snort. “Just teasing.”

“Look,” she sighs. “Tell or don’t tell whoever you want. That’s totally up to you. But he’swithyou, right?”

I nod.

“He's not still scoping out other girls?” She frowns. “If he is, I’ll cut off his balls?—”

“Wren!” I laugh before I shake my head. “But no. Not even a little bit.”

“May I make a shocking observation, then?”

I nod.

“Do you thinkmaybethat this is a ‘you’ issue?”

I frown. “Well…yeah. I know it’s a me issue?—”

“I don’t mean a youhangup. I mean I think you’re framing it the wrong way.”

I suck on my teeth as I eye her doubtfully. “Explain.”

“Stop looking at it likehepickedyou, Galina,” Wren sighs. “Like you’re the lucky winner of some random prize draw who needs to be appropriately grateful.” She grins and pokes a finger at me. “Think of it asyoupickedhim,” she says with a little smile. “So, you know…lucky him. He’d better be fucking grateful that my frienddeignsto let him ravage her silly.”

I giggle and groan into my hands as my face heats.

“You know I’mriiii-iight,” she says in a sing-song voice. “Say it. C’mon. Say ‘You’re so right, Wren’.”

I roll my eyes, biting back a grin. “You’resooooright, Wren.”

She holds up her phone as if to video me. “Once more, for the record?”

“Calm down, woman.”

She snorts a laugh and puts her phone down, then looks me in the eye.

“Does he treat you well, though? Like, is he genuinelyniceto you, or does he just want to fuck you?—”

“He treats me like a queen,” I smile through my blush.

Wren sighs happily. “Galina, I know I’m biased because you’re one of my best friends. But I have news for you: youAREa fuckin’ queen. So I’m giving you permission to not give a single fuck about how anyone else sees the two of you.”