Page 99 of Coveted By Cupid

She’s huffing when she reaches me. “Have you ever heard of picking up a phone?”

“Have you ever heard of wearing a bra?”

Cookie chokes on a laugh, covering his mouth with his fist. Crypt frowns, not understanding who this bimbo is. He watches her closely as if he’s cataloging every detail about her in case it’s important later.

Riley’s mouth drops open, surprised by my rudeness.

She shouldn’t be. Riley has earned all the rudeness in the world from me.

Riley recovers quickly, blinking her irritation away. “I’m being serious, Vanessa. Boden has been worried sick about you. You should have called to let him know where you’ve been.”

“Why?” I ask, my nose turning up in disgust. “We’re over. He shouldn’t give two shits about me. And why the hell would I call him? He fucked you. He’s your problem now. Go away.”

“Be for real, Vanessa,” she snaps, annoyance creeping into her voice. “Boden’s been out of his mind searching for you when he noticed you weren’t around campus last week. He went to your apartment, freaking out when he found out you had moved. We’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“Aw. And you’ve been so gracious to help your fuck buddy track me down? How sweet of you,” I say mockingly.

“Ugh, I’m trying to be nice here and you’re being such a bitch.”

“You bring it out of me,” I snap back.

“Careful, Psyche. Remember what Romy said? You’re going to crack your paint if you sneer any harder,” Crypt says beside me, his voice etched with concern.

“Thanks, Crypt,” I mutter irritably before readdressing Riley with more venom in my voice. “You hear that, you pick-me? You’re making my face peel. Fuck off already.”

“I’m not fucking off anywhere,” Riley fires back, putting her hands on her hips like she’s settling in for the long haul.

Cookie leans against the building, watching our public showdown with the biggest grin on his face. Crypt’s scowl grows more pronounced, pivoting to stand more in front of me, as if he can sense things are escalating and wanting to be in the best position to keep me safe.

“What do you want from me? An apology? I’m sorry I’m not sorry I slept with your boyfriend, but I don’t enjoy seeing him this upset thinking something happened to you when clearly you’re fine.”

“Golly gee, if it’s not Saint Whore’Riley reading me the riot act. Go whine to Boden about it.”

I turn to head into the building when a hand clamps hard around my arm. I glance down at it to find Riley has her talons wrapped around my wrist. “The hell? Let go of me.”

Riley shakes her head, her blonde hair swaying with agitation. “I can’t do that. You need to come with me.”

Losing my cool, I yank against her hold, but she hangs on like a nasty sea barnacle. “I’m not going anywhere with you. Take your hands off me.”

Riley’s grip tightens to the point of pain. “Boden wants to see you. We need to go find him.”

I hiss with impatience when she tries to yank me along with her. My heels dig into the cement path, refusing to move. “I said no. Let go of me, you weirdo.”

The two of us are playing a game of tug of war on my arm when Crypt steps in, clamping a hand around Riley’s forearm. She looks down where he holds her in place before fearfully raising her eyes to his, looking at him for the first time like she hadn’t noticed him standing with me during our entire exchange.

“Let her go or I’ll break your arm,” he says in a truly menacing voice.

Riley’s eyes go wide with alarm.

Can’t say I blame her. Crypt is a terrifying sight, a Goth giant with the aura of a Grim Reaper. If a ginormous Brandon Lee’s Crow look-alike threatened to snap one of my limbs, I’d panic, too.

“Easy, Crypt,” Cookie says calmly, trying to tame a beast from going on a rampage. He eases off the wall, joining the conversation with cautious steps, as if he’s afraid any fast action will push Crypt into aggression. “You don’t want to hurt any woman.”

Crypt looks at Cookie, expressionless, saying, “I’ll hurt anyone who hurts one of our own. Only children are untouchable.”

Yikes. Spicy Grim Reaper.

Riley lets go of me with a terrified squeak, retreating as far away from Crypt’s reach as she can. “I’m going to find Boden. You can’t avoid him forever.”