Page 24 of Her Crew

But it still feels weird.

I ease out from under his arm, peel away the scratchy covers, and sneak off to the bathroom. I look at myself in the mirror. I kind of like my new look—clean and so normal that I’m unforgettable. I like the way my hazel eyes shine because I’m not in an eternal state of fear and anxiety.

I take a breath and lean back as memories return in a flood of emotions. Meeting Tye. Delia’s bullying pushing me back into my compulsion. Ace telling me a secret. And, oh god, us coming together. What was I thinking? That I didn’t want to disappoint someone who looks at me like Ace does? That I’d have let him sleep with me if it made him happy?

And I hate that for me. I’m glad he didn’t try to go further. I want to go further, but I’m not sure I’m there yet. He’s so fucking patient with me, and I don’t know why I deserve that.

I touch the bruise on my forehead and wince. I knew it would bruise the moment I felt it last night. At least I look the part for the next set of sales, I guess.

I grab the toothpaste off the counter and use my finger to brush my teeth. When I return to the main room, Ace is up and searching through his bag.

“We overslept. Shit,” he says without looking at me. “Order turn-in is eight a.m. on the dot.”

“I’ll go get my stuff.”

“Already grabbed it. But there’s no time. Just grab the orders and come with me.” He steps closer and brushes his hands through my hair—to make me more presentable, I guess.

I step into my shoes and follow him. Ace dries his palms on his jeans before knocking on the last door on the left. Stacks open the door, and judging by the look on his face, he’s not happy. He gestures for us to come inside with his chin, so we do.

“Hey, sorry. I overslept. Here are my orders from yesterday.” Ace lays out a stack of orders and then takes mine from my hands. “And here are hers.”

“She got these sales?” Stacks asks, surprised as fuck. It’s annoying. I mean, he’s right to question it, but still. I’m right here.

“Yeah, she’s a natural,” Ace lies. I jab a fist into his side, but he doesn’t waver. “She did great.”

Stacks strides over and lifts my chin with his hand. He reminds me of every one of my mother’s friends. Sleazy doesn’t even begin to cover it. I want to pull my face from him, but he’s my boss now.

“What happened to her head?” He’s looking at me but asking Ace.

“She fell.”

“It looks good for sales, actually.”

It takes everything in me not to roll my eyes, despite thinking the same thing.

“Can I ask you something, Stacks?” Ace asks, pulling the man from me.

“What’s up?”

“Mind if the girl stays in my room for now? The girls aren’t being very welcoming.”

Stacks laughs. “Absolutely not. I don’t need you having a distraction like that. You know sex isn’t allowed within the crew.”

“It’s not like that. I have no intention of sleeping with her. She’s much too young for me. I just think she’d do better without the girls being bitchy to her.”

Ouch. Again, I’m literally right fucking here.

Ace has a bit of a hold over his boss. I guess that’s what happens when you’re the best-seller in the group. Keep the best happy, right?

Stacks grabs his chin and looks me over. “If I find out you two have done any fucking around, you’ll both end up on the side of the road, got it?”

Alec nods, and we turn to leave.

“Oh, and Ace?” Stacks says behind us. “Sell better next time. This isn’t living up to the level I expect of you.”

Alec’s body tenses beside me, and he nods before he walks me out the door.

We walk down the hall, back toward the motel room. “You shouldn’t have given me your orders,” I whisper as we slip inside his room.