Page 269 of Trick or Stalk

“I’d never tell you what to do, Presley. Only you can decide what’s right for you and your life. I mean, I can cast a spell on him if you want. Maybe give him poison ivy on his dick or something.”

A laugh comes out of me. We’re so much alike.

“See. You feel a tiny bit better, don’t you?”

“Slightly. Very slight.”

“Progress.” I can hear the smile in her voice.

“I always thought I liked you cause you were weird.” I smile. “Turns out I like your serious, logical side, too.”

She gasps. “Don’t tell anyone about that! Ever!”

I giggle.

“See. I knew I’d get you to laugh.”

“Thanks, Stella.”

“Anytime, Presley. Now, go take a nice, long bath and get some sleep. Give yourself time. And grace. You don’t need to make any decisions now.”

I nod. “I already made one. I want you to curse him and Callie to run him over.”

“Wow! I don’t know who Callie is, but offering to run over a man who hurt my friend makes me like her already.”

“She also gave me some advice. ‘Cry if you must. Then put on a sexy outfit, some makeup, and show the bastard what he’s missing.’”

“I like it. That’s tomorrow’s agenda. Tonight it’s bath and sleep. Maybe dream of some curses.”

Exhaustion hits me hard. “Thanks for listening.”

“Always, babe. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

I stand abruptly. Penny slides from my lap and gives me an offended look.

“I need out of this dress. Then a hot bath and some sleep.”

Penny yawns in agreement.

She follows me upstairs, lying on the bathroom rug while I fill the tub.

When I walk out and begin peeling off my costume, I think about the book I recommended to him. I remember internally screaming at the heroine, Girl, he knows your bedroom. How are you not putting this together?

Apparently fictional women aren't the only dumbasses in love.

My breath catches. Love.

“No.”

I’m not using that word tonight.

I toss the costume onto the bed with significantly less respect than it deserves.

Then I grab my pajamas and stomp into the bathroom. Penny side-eyes me for waking her.

No more thinking of Hades.