Page 157 of I’m The Worst

The ride to Gage’s house seems endless.

I don’t check my phone.

Don’t check notifications.

Don’t look at the dozens of missed calls and texts waiting for me.

The second I let myself into Gage’s house, I hear him fucking some Servant somewhere upstairs. My nose wrinkles immediately.

“Gross.”

I grab a bottle of vodka from his bar and head straight for the backyard. The pool water glows pale blue beneath the late morning sky while I sit on the edge, my legs dangling in the water.

The first drink burns all the way down.

Then the second.

Then the third.

I’m aching all over from Wolff’s hands. But my chest hurts worse. I wish I could stop wanting him. Even now, if he texted, I’d still go back. I hate myself for that more than anything.

“Fuck, AJ,” Gage mutters from somewhere behind me.

“Morning to you too.”

The sliding door shuts quietly behind him before he drops onto the pool deck beside me with a tired groan.

“You’re drinking already?”

A bitter smile tugs at my mouth. “Don’t act surprised.” I lift the vodka bottle slightly toward him. “Want some?”

He shakes his head, blond hair still messy from whoever he dragged home last night.

Typical Gage.

We’re twins, but nobody would ever guess it looking at us. He got all the good parts. Bright blue eyes. Blond hair. Sharp jawline. Tall. Charming. The perfect Sovereign son.

And me?

I stare down at my reflection in the water. Dark hair. Ruined makeup. Hollow eyes.

A fucking disaster.

I take another long drink. Gage watches me before exhaling hard through his nose.

“Dad’s been calling me all morning.”

Leaning forward slightly, my elbows rest on my knees while the pool water laps softly against my calves.

“Do you know what you missed?”

I roll my eyes, already knowing where this is going.

“Your wedding cake tasting and menu planning with the caterers. David was there.” He rubs a hand down his face. “AJ, I know you don’t want this marriage, but disappearing all night and ghosting everybody isn’t helping.”

A laugh slips out before I can stop it. “Sorry. I forgot I’m supposed to be excited about being traded off like a fucking broodmare.”

“Jesus Christ.”