The Entitled (The Entitled Duet #1) - Cassandra Robbins Page 0,76
from him.
I want to throw myself into his strong arms. I want him to stroke my hair like he does Lana. I’m so pathetic. That small smile was all I needed to make my heart swell. No wonder I have issues!
Fuck this. He doesn’t get to make me feel like shit anymore.
Straightening my shoulders, I speak to him one last time. “Bye, Daddy.” I don’t look back.
REED
Past – eighteen years old
The Hamptons
I sit by the pool in the Hamptons on one of those days where you hear the seagulls and smell the salt in the air. It’s Lexi’s family’s summer home. She decided it would be fun to throw Jax and me a birthday party. Eighteen, and I’m bored. Bored with my friends, bored with drinking, and bored with Lexi! I don’t know why I let my mom guilt me into trying a relationship with her. I knew she was a stalker. A complete head case. I should have acted like a man instead of an angry child. And now, everyone thinks we’re together—including her.
Raising my face to the warm sun, I dangle my legs in the saltwater pool and try to figure out what I want. How should I pull myself out of this funk? My eyes pop open and I rub my hands over my face, begging my brain not to conjure her up.
I shouldn’t be like this. I’m still obsessed. I need her probably more today than I needed her a year ago. Laughter and squealing bring me back to the present.
“Hey, Reed?” Andrew throws a volleyball at me. It misses, but he manages to get me wet.
“Where’s Lexi? We’re almost out of ice.”
“How the hell do I know where she is?” I snap. “Try the house.”
“Dude, do us all a favor and have a shot.”
I want to yell that I’m unhappy. That I hate Lexi. That if I was free of her, I would be better, but I’m not sure that’s true. There is only one person who can make me better, and she is ten hours away. Whatever. I am over being Lexi’s boyfriend. Standing up, I stretch. Everyone looks like they are having fun. Maybe Andrew’s right and some alcohol will do the trick.
“Baby?” Gritting my teeth, I find my patience is at an all-time low today. I can’t stand her calling me that. It must be pretty obvious because she puts her hands on her hips.
“Can you at least pretend to be happy? It’s your birthday!” Turning toward Lexi, I take in her appearance. She’s wearing the smallest string bikini I’ve ever seen. Thankfully she doesn’t have much of a chest because the bikini is nothing but a lot of straps that cross all around her. Staring at the straps I know she wore this bikini to give me the hint: she wants me to tie her up.
I have to get rid of her.
All her submissive shit was interesting for about a week. I got excited at the thought of completely controlling someone. Unfortunately, having someone need you to pick out her clothes, decide what she eats, and when she goes to bed gets old fast. Maybe I should have my mom’s therapist talk to her. What she needs me to do is nowhere near healthy. I dominate her, and she gets off on it. I don’t even fuck her.
That’s how low I’ve sunk. I’m probably depressed. Lexi’s flowery perfume makes me take a step back almost gagging.
“Andrew says the bar needs more ice.” My nose twitches.
“Then have the help do it. Why are you telling me? And are you hiding from me?”
Sighing, I run a hand through my hair. “Lexi, I have a headache.”
“Poor baby.” Her skinny, oiled-up arms snake around my neck. “Why didn’t you say so? Do you need me to massage your neck?” Her sharp nails dig into my skin as she tries to rub me.
“Thanks, I’m fine. Just tired.” I remove her hands from me. Great, now I smell like her! I have to end this today.
I know my mom is going to be disappointed. Both she and my dad will think I’m going back to prostitutes. But Lexi’s darkness is starting to rub off on me, making me even more miserable.
“Lexi!” Andrew yells. “Get your sweet ass in the pool. Tell your dickhead boyfriend to get us some ice.”
“Get it yourself,” I snarl.
He heaves himself out of the pool laughing, shaking his head like a dog, spraying us with wet drops. Lexi squeals and hides behind my