Perfectly Toxic (The Sterling Shore Series Book 9) (23 page)

Chapter 45

BELLA

Ethan is playing beer pong with a group of guys who are barely legal to drink. I don’t even think he knows their names, but he seems to be having the time of his life.

Me? Not so much.

There’s vomit on my shoes from some random chick who was screaming, “Winner, winner, chicken dinner!” She threw up something that looked nothing like chicken. It did, however, resemble decaying guacamole. Guess I was her winner.

Disgusting.

My ass has been grabbed more times than I can count, and the perverts doing the grabbing run off and bump fists with other guys who congratulate them like they’ve truly accomplished something. If my breasts “accidentally” get brushed one more time, I might stab someone in the eye with a pen, and call that an accident too.

I haven’t had a drop to drink, and that might be the problem. But I also don’t know any of these people, so I don’t trust them to be around me when I’m drunk. Yeah, I’m incredibly rational and think of things like that these days.

I had no idea how much adulting I do until this moment.

A guy in front of me stumbles, and a gasp leaves my lips when half his beer sloshes up and spills all over my shirt.

“Sorry, but hey! Let’s do a wet t-shirt contest!” he hoots, punching a fist in the air like he’s a motherfucking genius.

Cracking my neck to the side, I walk toward Ethan as he chugs down another beer—and they’re actually chanting
chug, chug, chug,
too.

Whoops
and whistles sound out, and Ethan raises two fists in the air like he’s a gold medal winner or something as they start chanting his name.

When he sees me, he gives me a drunken grin, pulling me to him with both hands on my ass. At least I like it when he gropes me, but I’m sick of getting groped by all these assholes. Not that I can tell Ethan that. He’d either end up in a fight, or tell me to get over it. I’m not sure which, to be honest, considering how unpredictable he is.

“Hey, baby,” he says, his eyes glazed over, letting me know how far gone he is.

“You’re drunk,” I point out.

“You’re sober,” he states with disappointment.

“Do you even know any of these people?” I ask, gesturing around the room with one hand.

“I don’t have to know them. These are my people. Look at everyone having fun. Why can’t you loosen up?”

Okay… So that’s annoying. I’m not a wet blanket, but I’ve been there and done that. It’s just not as appealing to me to hang out and get wasted with a bunch of strangers.

“Maybe if some of the others were here,” I say with a shrug.

He arches an eyebrow. “Tag has a new baby. Rye is probably digging himself out of whatever contraption Brin has thrown at him. Corbin is with Ruby at some hotel, checking out their possible wedding location. Wren and Allie are with Angel. Dane and Rain are—”

“I get it,” I interrupt, sighing. “I know everyone is out doing something tonight. I was just saying I don’t feel comfortable getting wasted with—”

A fight breaks out in the middle of the floor, and five guys dressed in tactical gear—Ethan’s hired security—swoop in from out of nowhere and break it up before it can really get started. Some guy bumps into me in his haste to get away from the action, almost knocking me over. Ethan catches me then shoves the guy, ready to get into a fight as well.

“Stop,” I tell him, shoving at his chest when the guy taunts him.

“She shouldn’t be in the fucking way,” the guy says, as if he’s goading Ethan.

Ethan easily pushes past me, and his fist collides with the guy’s face. All the asshole did was barely bump into me, and now Ethan is on top of him, pummeling him as his security guys wrestle their way through the crowd.

By the time they pull him off the other guy, the guy’s nose is a bloody mess, as well as his mouth. He’s clutching his side, and Ethan is still giving the security team hell, making three guys hold him back.

I guess I have my answer about what he’d do if he found out my ass was getting grabbed all night.

My heartbeat is in my ears as Ethan curses and threatens the guy, acting completely crazy. I’ve never seen him lose it like that, and I have to blame it on the fact he’s too drunk to think logically. What if that guy sues him?

“I’ve come to all of his parties, and I’ve never seen him go ape shit like that,” one guy is saying.

“Yeah, he’s fucking psycho. Awesome!”

Feeling even more uncomfortable, I slowly make my way back to Ethan as he shrugs off his last security guy. He’s telling them to make sure that ‘piece of shit’ never comes back.

When he sees me, the violent man on the surface ducks back into hiding, and he pulls me toward him again, kissing the top of my head with a tenderness that contradicts the brutal act he just displayed.

“You okay?” he asks, tilting my chin up so that my eyes can meet his.

“I’m fine. That was way over the top.”

His look hardens with that. “The hell it was. This is my house, and you’re my girl. Fuck him. He needed his ass kicked.”

I want to slap him and kiss him in the same breath. I hate the whole caveman thing, but at the same time, I’m fairly positive no one has ever been so fiercely overprotective of me. However, I still think beating the hell out of a guy over something as simple as that is overkill.

What would have happened if security hadn’t been here?

Ethan moves me against him, kissing me again, and I give up thinking until we start moving toward his bedroom.

“I think you owe me bathroom sex,” he murmurs against my lips, pushing his door open.

My smile spreads, surprising me, but that smile dies immediately when we hear the moans and growls coming from somewhere in the dark room.

“What the fuck?” Ethan barks while flipping on the light.

On his bed, Star Morgan and some guy I’ve seen at the gym—Cody?—look up from their joined positions on the bed, fully naked.

“What the hell, dude?” Cody snaps.

“This is my fucking bed,
dude
. It’s off limits. This damn door was locked!” Ethan explodes.

Cody curses while rolling off Star, and I’m subjected to seeing all of his naked body, including his condom-covered penis—as he grabs his jeans with jerky movements. Star… I also get to see her. She grabs a sheet, but it’s too late. I’ve gotten an eyeful.

I’m not sure how I feel about his ex being on his bed. Naked. Even if it is with another guy.

“Sorry,” Cody says, sounding genuinely apologetic. “She said this was a guest room, and the door wasn’t locked.”

“Oops,” Star says, though it doesn’t sound genuine.

Star cuts her eyes toward me, and she gives me a smile… A smile that almost looks sweet, but I have a feeling it’s lined with a razor’s edge.

Star stands, keeping Ethan’s sheet wrapped around her, and I turn and walk out when she gives him the same smile she gave me and utters a fake apology. I’m out the front door when Ethan catches up to me, and I pass a guy who is puking in the bushes.

“Bella! Where the hell are you going?” Ethan demands, gently grabbing my arm and forcing me to turn around.

He looks confused, as though he can’t understand why I’d possibly consider leaving.

When a girl streaks by in nothing but her bra and panties, streaming a roll of toilet paper behind her like another group are doing, I roll my eyes.

“Ethan, as much as I want to be with you tonight, I don’t want to be here. There’s puke on my shoes, gum in my hair, and beer all over my shirt. There’s also blood on my jeans from where you punched a guy. Oh, and I just saw your ex—the one you envisioned a future with—naked on your bed. Pardon me if I don’t feel like hanging around to see what other goodies I might find.”

He grimaces, but overall, he’s still staring at me like I’m the one overreacting.

I don’t want to argue while he’s drunk. That will never end well.

“Go back in and enjoy yourself. I’m going to walk home,” I tell him, forcing a smile.

“Like hell. Bella, I’m not letting you walk home alone. Just give me a damn second, and I’ll walk you back myself.”

People inside start chanting his name. Maybe I am a wet blanket.

“Stay here,” he tells me before turning to head back inside.

Deciding I don’t want him to feel torn about what to do, I wait until he walks in to do whatever it is he’s going to do, and I start sprinting toward my house. It’s not far, and I don’t have to slow down.

By the time I reach my yard, I kick off my ruined shoes, leave them on the front porch, and I head inside to find Bananas has clawed up my leather chair. Maverick Sterling needs to get this damn cat out of my house.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I blow out a long breath before reading the message.

ASSHOLE: Where the hell are you?

I guess he just got back outside and discovered me gone.

ME: At home. Enjoy your party. I’ll see you tomorrow.

ASSHOLE: Fine.

Obviously he’s pissed, but he’ll sober up tomorrow and we can have this discussion without the blur of alcohol.

I head to my bedroom, shower, and then crash.

I hope Ethan knows that unless he gets a new bed, he’s never getting laid in his bedroom again. I don’t foresee me forgetting the mental image of Star’s flawless, naked body spread over his bed.

It’s just a phase… Eventually he’ll get tired of the parties, just like everyone else. Then maybe, just maybe, there could be a future.

Chapter 46

ETHAN

I haven’t seen Bella since she bailed on me at the party two days ago, and this will be day three, unless she agrees to see me. I wanted to go over to her place first thing the next morning, but I didn’t wake up until a little after two. In the afternoon. By then, she was gone with Allie and Angel to shop for Angel’s school play.

Then I wanted to see her yesterday, but she had to work, and she ended up pulling a double. I wanted to let myself into her house and just wait on her to get home, but a few people showed up—names are lost on me—and we ended up drinking late into the night, since I figured Bella would be too tired to do anything other than sleep.

I really regret that decision, based on the late-night drunk texts that passed between us. I don’t even remember the conversation, but I do know she’s probably pissed, since she’s not answering today.

ME: You still in a pissy mood, or can I come over and get some?

That was the message I sent her a little after midnight last night. I wish she hadn’t seen it or responded.

BELLA: I guess you’re drunk again. Say hi to Star for me, and tell her not to fuck anyone on your bed when you get a new one. Please.

ME: Star isn’t here. Just some other people. Come over and make it up to me for leaving like a punk the other night.

BELLA: Thanks, but no thanks. I’m good.

ME: I know you’re good. That’s why I want you over here.

BELLA: Glad you want me for sex. Good to know. Good night. I have work tomorrow.

ME: Really? That’s it? You’re blowing me off again?

BELLA: I have a job.

ME: Lose the job and come ride me.

ME: Seriously come over.

ME: Are you ignoring me?

ME: Fine. What the fuck ever. Bye.

And now I want to punch myself. Every time I read them back, they seem worse. I’ve sent several messages since I woke up over an hour ago and realized what I’d done.

ME: Sorry about last night. I’ll hide my phone from now on.

ME: Hey, what time you get off? I’ll pick you up and take you out to dinner or something.

ME: I realize I’m an asshole, but please text me back or call. I’m sorry.

Inwardly groaning, I toss my phone to the side. She hasn’t messaged back, and she hasn’t called. All the while, I’m stewing in my stupidity.

Funny how all I ever wanted was my freedom, yet now I’m begging a chick to tether me to her. It’s harder to sway her opinion about having fun with me, if she’s miserable, and then I go and drunk text her on top of that.

I’ve replayed the party events in my head a few times, and decided it wasn’t any one thing that set her off and made her ready to leave. Next time, I’ll just keep her with me all night, just like I should have done this time.

My phone chimes, and I practically rip it up from the table to check it. Unfortunately, it’s just another ping from that motherfucking MILF dating site Bella added me to. Damn her.

Getting up, I stuff my phone into my pocket and grab my keys.

It’s a short drive to Rye’s garage, and I pull in, seeing it full to the brim with people waiting to have shit done. I forgot Brin recently started working for Rye as his office manager, since his other one quit without notice and Brin couldn’t stand her boss at the museum anymore.

Brin waves when she sees me, but it’s more of a polite gesture, because she’s a whirlwind of motion as she deals with people who are coming in. Rye is downstairs in the garage, and I see him through one of the viewing windows.

Deciding he’s too busy to do anything else, I head out, waving at Brin, who doesn’t even notice me this time. Wren will have Allie at home with him, because she’s started handling all his things like an assistant—one he never even knew he desperately needed.

Tag… Fuck, Tag has a new baby, but I still drive over to his place.

When I get there, he opens the door for me, looking exhausted as he holds the tiny little baby girl in his arms, and walks with Trip attached to his leg like it’s his favorite seat in the house.

“Damn,” I drawl, looking him over. “Aren’t you the family man.”

He rolls his eyes and gestures me in, and I walk inside to see baby pins, baby toys, and baby clothes scattered everywhere between the little guy on his leg and the pink bundle in his arms.

“And a baby store exploded in here.”

He grunts something before shaking his head.

“It’s the dreaded adjustment period, and Fall doesn’t like to sleep,” he explains.

“And your wife?” I muse.

“Is taking her turn getting in a nap. I just woke up a few minutes ago and took over so she could get some sleep. We’re both running on empty right now. But Melanie and Ray are coming over tonight to help out.”

I just nod, surveying the home. Once upon a time, Tag was cleaning up parties the way I am. Now he’s juggling two kids on a shift.

I feel sorry for him.

“What’s up? Did you need something?” he asks me.

I shake my head, deciding he has too much on his plate to go golfing or something.

“Nah. Just stopping in to check on things.”

Guilt hits me when he smiles like he appreciates that.

“Thanks, man,” he says, digging that guilt a little deeper into me. “It’s actually not so bad. I think Trip just spoiled us because he’d sleep for hours at a time without waking up. Fall, however, sleeps about thirty minutes at a time. They keep telling us she’ll get better and sleep longer though.”

Trip peers up at me with wide, curious eyes, and his hands tighten on his dad’s leg when his gaze meets mine. Smirking, I look over at Fall, who is sucking a pacifier like it’s the greatest invention ever.

“And she doesn’t like to be put down,” Tag goes on, sighing with exasperation, but then a smile lights up his face when he looks down at her.

“Well, alright then. I’d offer to help you out, but…” I let the words trail off, and we both start laughing.

“Thanks. I get it. I’ve been you before.”

Shrugging, I clap him on the shoulder as we say goodbye, and I let myself out.

All of my friends have lives, and I’m still trying to catch up. I just wish Bella was in the same place I am, because then I wouldn’t have to deal with her being pissed at me while I play catch up.