Perfectly Toxic (The Sterling Shore Series Book 9) by C.M. Owens Page A

some moments in life that just shouldn’t happen, and this is one of them.
    Bella is sitting on the couch, smirking in my direction, and right beside her is a girl whose name I should know but can’t remember.
    “Ethan!” the girl says, standing as she adjusts her very short skirt.
    Mothballs. All I remember about her is that she smells like mothballs.
    Bella screws the cap on her bottle of water, sitting silently until I glare at her.
    “Sorry,” she says, not sorry at all. “Lynn knocked, so I let her in. Says she lost her panties here, and she came to retrieve them.”
    I do remember that we didn’t get her panties off, so that’s bullshit.
    Lynn beams at me, then winks. I want to throttle Bella for letting her in, and I want to forget all about the fact I almost had sex with Lynn during my welcome home party that ended with me in the emergency room.
    “And I wanted to see how you’re doing,” Lynn interjects, still beaming. “I’ve tried calling, and I tried to find you at your last party, but I never saw you. The guys said you’d taken a girl home. I’ve stopped by a few times, but this is the first time I’ve caught you at home.”
    Bella stands just as I start to point out I took Krysta—Ruby’s sister—home, since she shouldn’t have been here in the first place.
    “Well, as great as all this is, I really need to be going,” Bella tells me, holding up the bottle of water. “And thanks for the drink. It was… clarifying.”
    The humor in her tone is forced, and I mentally check off the ways Lynn has fucked up my entire night.
    “Bella, I—”
    She holds her hand up. “I don’t need anything from you. It’s your life, and you don’t owe me anything. But the truth would have been nice, considering it’s been… How did you put it? Too long? Guess we have different definitions of too long .”
    Cursing, I follow as she heads toward the door with quick steps. My hand slams against the door before she can escape, and her back tenses as I press against her from behind.
    “This isn’t what it looks like, and you can at least let me explain before you storm out.”
    Drama. I never do fucking drama.
    “Told you I had a type,” she says, pulling at the door handle.
    I release it, my jaw ticking as I step back and let her step over the threshold. She whirls around, and she gives me a bitter smile.
    “Ethan?” Lynn calls from the living room, reminding me I have to deal with her on top of everything else.
    “Enjoy being a frat boy. Just leave me alone. Please,” Bella states flatly, and my head falls back as she turns and starts walking away.
    “I drove you,” I remind her.
    “I need the cardio,” she says without looking back.
    I slam the door, moving toward the living room where Lynn is biting her lip nervously.
    “Sorry. Was that your girlfriend?” she asks with fake contrition.
    “You need to go,” I tell her, tossing her purse at her chest.
    She squeals as she catches it.
    “But my panties,” she reminds me, and I grab my wallet.
    Shoving forty dollars in her hand, I start pushing her toward the door, and she stumbles over her own feet to move with my pace.
    “Buy another pair. On me.”
    I push her all the way out, then I lock the door before heading to my garage. Bella just reminded me why I don’t do relationships. I should fucking thank her.
    I’ve never liked being labeled. I’ve always hated being called a liar. And I don’t do drama.
    I don’t care how bad she’s under my skin, I’ll find a way to get the hell over it.
     

Chapter 15
     
    BELLA
     
    Just as I reach the end of the block, the distinct sound of a crotch rocket pulls up beside me. I glance over to see the shiny, reflective glass of a helmet. But I know whose dark eyes are hiding behind the tinted lens.
    After lingering for a second, he zips by, but he parks just ahead of me and tugs off his helmet. I really don’t have time for this crap. Right now, I just want to go home and get the smell of the