Page 24 of Her Sloth

“No.”

“Huh,” I say as I eye her. I expected a full lecture.

“You want me to judge?” she asks.

“No.”

It’s an almost painful silence until we find the Eleanor.

I park in front of the silver-grey beauty, and we get out.

Seeing the car still gives me an uncomfortable stitch in my chest. It is a living reminder of everything I lost.

We both stare at the car.

All that happened yesterday hovers between us. Seeing it brings back my anger. The anger of her being here with Elise’s car, while she⁠—

I turn away as I kick the ground.

I am so stupid taking her here.

Why would I do that shit? Showing her the scene and who I know?

“Cass,” she says softly.

I don’t want to hear it.

Whatever she has to say, I don’t fucking care.

She saved my fucking ass, but not her sister.

“Cass,” she says again.

“Why did you fucking do it?” I round on her. “The cops, blocking them? Did you want to get on my good side? Prove something? Why are you fucking here?”

She swallows hard and looks away at the ground, drawing her lips inward.

“Come on,” I say and build myself up in front of her, provoking her with a playfully arrogant tone. “What are you hiding? It’s just us here. The elitist L.A. girl. Flown in from Hollywood after everyone died.”

“Shut your mouth,” she threatens me. But I’m not intimidated by her.

“The famous actress acting out because daddy didn’t allow her treats, while her sister suffered.”

“Shut up!” she roars at me, tears in her eyes, anger flashing at me.

“I won’t shut up,” I say, “not until I know the truth.”

“Go fuck off then,” she says and aims to get in the Eleanor. But I parked in front. She’s not getting out without me.

I lean against the passenger door of the Hellcat, cross my arms provocatively in front of me, and purse my lips, telling her visually I am not going anywhere.

“Get out of the way,” she says angrily.

“Nope,” I say.

She stands next to Eleanor, face in the half-dark, her chest heaving up and down for just a moment before she walks up to me, and fuck me, she is tall and imposing, especially when angry.

She grasps my jaw as her body clashes into mine, a wave of her scent washing over me. Or rather, the scent of a rough night—not what I expected. I expected her to be perfectly manicured like all those Hollywood girls.