Faking Amends (BadLuckBrides series #2)

11

Ivan

Come on Cassie. Pick up.

"We're sorry. The number you have dialed cannot be—"

"Fuck! Me!" I shout, gripping my phone tightly in my fist so that it doesn't slip out of my hold when I toss my arm at the wall.

As much as I want to watch it shatter to pieces before my eyes, I'll need it when I try to call her again later.

Besides, that's my fourth phone replacement this year.

"We can go again if you'd like," Carly purrs, her hands slithering around my waist. "You don't have to yell."

My body goes tense and I walk toward the window just to get her off of me.

I'd been calling Cassie all day. When she stormed off last night, I figured she was just, I don't know—PMS'ing or something. There was no reason for her to get as upset as she did over what they were saying.

They're all idiots.

And although they're family, and Griffin, they're hardly important to me.

Why does it matter if they crack a few crude jokes at her? If anything, being made fun of is acceptance into the family.

We all fuck around like that. I could write a book full of the shit I've said about Cameron's wife, and honestly who gives a shit?

A majority of that night went surprisingly well, I thought.

She laughed at me, she smiled, she didn't seem like she despised me as much anymore. We'd made some great progress, and then one little thing sets her off and it's over?

I thought she'd cool off. Get over it. Get onto a new day with the same arrangement we had set in motion, and now I can't even fucking reach her.

I glare at Carly as she twirls away from me and begins gathering her clothes, scattered all over my living room.

We rarely ever got work done when we had our meetings. I mean, hardly ever.

Today was supposed to be different. She knew how much is on the line for this case and she still hopped up on my lap first thing like who gives a fuck.

But then again, I gave in just as easily.

In my defense, I was stressed over Cassie. I needed to let off some steam. A good distraction because my favorite distraction hates my guts right now.

I still don't get that.

Now I just want Carly to leave so I can continue to try and get my fiancée to answer my calls.

"You're such an ass," she says close to a whisper.

I am, I can't even argue it. "And yet you keep coming back."

She scowls at me, pulling her skirt up her knees. "Yeah, because I know that underneath all the assholery, there's actually an okay guy in there...somewhere."

"Assholery?" I sigh and say under my breath, "I like that."

"I'll just go. You do this every time and I'm not sure why I haven't learned yet."

"Carly..." I shut my eyes, a hand diving through my hair, my phone still fisted. "Please...finish that draft tonight and email it to me so I can go over it when I have time. I trust you to do this right for me."

When I open my eyes she's looking at me, completely serious.

She nods affirmatively and pulls her blouse over her chest, buttoning it up until her cleavage is concealed up to the last button.