Page 75 of Darkest Obsession

“Since when do you talk to Kola?” I snap at Kit. Kola’s never mentioned him and honestly, I need to make a mental note to her not to touch him with a ten foot pole. In fact, no one should touch Kit Barclay with anything other than a taser.

“I’m not doing it without Sylvia.”

“She said ‘yes’ too,” Jude offers. My eyes narrow suspiciously. I don’t know if I trust either of them and I let them know as much. Then, I see the proof. Damn it, guys… What the hell were they thinking? Maybe that’s what Sylvia’s SOS was about. Ugh.

To get rid of them fast, I agree to DJ too, but only because my friends made a promise. I have to wonder… why the hell did they do that?! Ugh.

“Is that all you want?” I snap, hating that they’re still standing so close to me and purposefully leaning forward so their crotches sit right at my eye level.

“I want to wank into your mouth,” Kit says. “But you seem busy.”

“Kill yourself, Kit.”

“Tried and failed, babe,” Kit responds with a wink. I seriously hope he’s joking.

“Later, Clover,” Jude says, in a shockingly more polite goodbye.

See you assholes never.

I need to get to rehearsal and find out what the hell my friends were thinking agreeing to this mess…

Are they getting blackmailed too?

Chapter Thirty-Three

Sylvia

Clover finally calms down about the DJ situation when she hears the reason Kola and I said yes. Money. The first thing I did when Kit asked was to text his cousin, my sister’s bae, Crispin Barclay and ask for advice. Crispin sent back two words: Extort him.

I asked for £50,000 each and he said yes! Maybe I’m not so bad at this “entrepreneur” thing. Clover can’t believe he agreed to pay, but it’s small change for a Barclay. Shout out to Crispin for the tip. Kola can’t even believe that much money exists. She wants to save most of it to pay her tuition next year and offset her scholarship earnings. I don’t know what Clover wants to do with the money, but it’s probably something cool.

After dance practice, she heads off to the library to see Thomas, and I head back to Kola’s room for a few. I have a meeting later tonight, but that won’t happen until long after Kola falls asleep. Kola’s in a good mood from securing the bag and I’m in a weird funk again. I miss dad, Denise, Teresa, mom and weirdly enough, I miss Amina. It might not be completely weird — she is my sister. But we only grew close over the past few months and I didn’t expect leaving her behind in New Orleans to hurt the way it does.

I think about calling mom and I know I’ll feel better if I do, but I’m not in the mood for a motivational speech. I also don’t want her to worry.

“Want to make Pop Tarts?” Kola asks as she pulls the dorm door open. Heck. Yes.

“Girl, you know it.”

“Pop Tarts make every sad mood go away. I’ll get them from my room.”

I head over to the common room as Kola bounds over her room to get the Pop Tarts. They’re so freaking sweet, but I love making them in the toaster and soaking up that delicious American goodness in between the bangers and mash. Molly, Clover’s roommate, sits in the common room when I get there.

“Hey, Molly!”

“Hey,” she says. “What’s up.”

She shuts her novel and curls her feet under her on the chair.

“Waiting for Kola to bring Pop Tarts. What are you reading?”

It’s not a novel at all, apparently.

“Why Men Love Bitches,” Molly answers.

“Is it any good?”

Molly shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s true though. Men only like bitches.”