Imprint.

Six

"Why are you scrubbing the floor like that?" Bentley asked, standing directly in front of me.

I glared at his shoes before looking up at him. "When I'm stressed, I clean."

He rolled his eyes. "You're-"

"Don't start. I don't need this from you, too."

He sat up on the counter and lifted his legs as I scrubbed the floor just under them. "I just don't see how this is bad."

I groaned. "I don't need this, Bentley."

"I know, I know. Just listen to me."

I didn't want to hear what he had to say but he always listened to me when I needed to vent.

"Gage is a good kid. He's no Will but he's nice. He'd be good for you."

"Can you not? I'm busy here."

He tapped my head with his foot. "I think you're keeping yourself busy so you don't have to think about it."

"I think you're full of-"

"Come on, Bentley. Don't aggravate her more. She's already a pain as is." Dean said, walking into the room. He was holding a stack of playing cards.

I sat up on my knees and brushed the hair from my face. "You know I don't have any money, right?"

Bentley opened the cabinet behind him and pulled out several bags of corn chips. "That's why we have these."

I sighed and dropped the rag in the bucket. "Fine."

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"Show me what you have." Dean said, leaning back in his chair, cards in his hand.

I laid down my cards: three 9s and two jacks. I smiled at him. "Looks like I won."

Dean laid his cards out, revealing he had four aces and a seven, which was wild. "Sorry, V."

I groaned and threw several chips at him. "I hate you."

He ate one of the chips before handing his cards to Bentley, who was the dealer. "I take it you never got much practice in while you were gone."

"College kids drink."

Dean looked at Bentley with a grin on his face. "I guess we're college kids then."

"You're just as immature as one."

He threw a chip at me and it didn't take long before chips were flying all over the place. I dodged one just as another slid down my shirt.

"Dean, I just cleaned in here."

"We're keeping you in business."

"And you don't even pay me."

"Just be glad we save any food for you, V." Bentley said, pulling a chip from his hair.

Without any warning, the door opened and Carter walked inside. His feet were dirty but the rest of him was clean. Following behind him was Gage.

I kicked both Bentley and Dean under the table. So much for werewolf hearing.

Thankfully, Carter gave him no time to stare at me. He pushed Gage toward the bedrooms and shut the door with his foot.

"That's still a no." Carter said. When Gage was out of sight, Carter looked at both Bentley and Dean. He lifted his arms at his sides and mouthed really?

"Sorry." Dean mumbled.

Someone knocked at the door and I raised my eyebrows.

"Are we expecting someone?"

Bentley shrugged. "I don't think so."

Dean got to his feet and walked over to the door. He opened it a crack before pulling it open all the way. "Denise, hi. What are you doing here?"

"Victoria's here?"

I let my head fall back and groaned internally. I got to my feet and walked over to the door. I looked out at the woman with her hair pulled up in a loose bun and all black clothing on like she was attending a funeral. "Hi, mom."