The Entitled (The Entitled Duet #1) - Cassandra Robbins Page 0,19

badly to turn her over and take her mouth, but she’s sleeping and I’m drunk. So, I close my eyes and allow her steady breathing and her scent to lull me to sleep.

TESS

My cell phone is ringing. Reed is wrapped around me like a boa constrictor squeezing its prey. I don’t even try to reach for it. Thankfully it stops.

Closing my eyes again, I snuggle into his warmth and sigh at how good this feels. I never want to move. My eyes close right on the verge of sleep, and it starts up again.

Both of us groan. “Christ, Tess answer it, or I’m throwing it out the window.” When I sit up, I’m somewhat disoriented. After I took the Valium last night, I passed out. I hardly ever take it, so when I do, I sleep soundly.

“Hello?” I say, not even bothering to open my eyes. Instead, I wiggle back down against Reed.

“Tess? Hello?” Loud giggles and squeals make my eyes pop open.

“Yeah?” I must sound completely out of it.

“How are you feeling?” A loud girl’s voice rings in my ear.

“Who is this?” I try to sit up again, but Reed’s not having it.

“Hang up,” he grumbles, pulling me closer as he kisses my shoulder.

“Is that Reed?” The voice sounds way too happy. Screaming continues in the background, and I hold the phone away from my ear. What the hell?

“Listen, whoever this is. Way too early. Don’t call back.”

“Wait, Tess… Don’t hang up. Guys shut up… Sorry, I just wanted to make sure you were feeling okay and that Reed was home. After he beat Aaron up, we were worried.” Now I do sit up. Reed grumbles and opens one eye.

“Who is this?” I look at my phone as if it’s magically going to tell me who I’m talking too.

“It’s Tiffany!” Like I should know this. I think I’ve maybe talked to this girl twice.

“What time is it?” My bitchy voice is out.

“I don’t know—early.” I can feel her crazy, excited energy through the phone. Suddenly I’m cold. It’s like I can feel doom infiltrating my veins. I want to hang up before she tells me what I know is going to ruin me.

“Anyway… we… I mean, I wanted to let you know that I was at Zack’s party last night. And I couldn’t help but see that Reed was into some skanky blond college girl. I mean everyone saw them! I know he said you were sick, but as your friend, I thought you should know… that she had her hands down his pants.”

My brain is not allowing me to function. I should hang up or scream, anything but stare like a zombie, letting her continue.

“Tess?”

“What else?” I manage to choke out.

Reed’s warm body stiffens, and his hand reaches for my phone. My brain eventually works and I turn sideways, my elbow preventing him.

“He probably didn’t want you to hear about it, so he beat the crap out of Aaron. Broke his nose so badly he had to go to the hospital to get it put back properly. He also had to get stitches under his eye. As your friend, I thought you should know.” Screams and laughter are going on the whole time she is talking.

All I can manage is a pathetic “I don’t believe you” before I hang up.

I throw my cell phone away from me like it’s been dipped in poison. Reed sits up, wariness in his turquoise eyes.

“Tess?” His voice is gentle like he’s scared I’m going to bolt.

I don’t. I let him pull me to him.

“Nothing happened,” he says, stroking my hair like he would a skittish kitten.

“So, you didn’t break Aaron’s nose?” Wow, I sound calm.

“Who called you, Tess?”

“Tiffany.” I’m numb, or maybe I’m having an out-of-body experience.

“If what she says is true, I might start screaming and never stop.” My mind fills with visions of Reed with some blonde touching him… putting her hands on what is mine!

“Oh my God.” My breath starts coming in small wheezing gasps. Yep, here comes the panic attack.

“Tess, look at me.” Are my teeth chattering?

“Come on, baby.” He shakes me slightly.

“Did you fuck the blonde who had her hand down your pants? Did you?” Staring at him, I give him a look that begs for him to tell me it’s not true.

And he does. He shakes his head no.

“Thank God.” My body melts into his.

“Kitten.” His thumb strokes my lips. “You never have to worry about me cheating on you! It would never happen. You’re all