Vexed Read Online Free PDF

about to ask her name, when Karina answers.
    “Mind your own business, Melody.”
    The girl stomps out of the kitchen and Karina pulls me over to a table in the corner.
    “Didn’t she go to our high school?”
    “Yeah. Ignore her. She likes to start trouble.”
    “Does she—”
    “Yes.”
    “Has she—”
    “Probably.”
    Now I’m the one saying, “Ew.”
    “Can we talk for a sec before you get all wrapped up with Romeo?”
    “Yeah. Sure. What’s wrong?”
    She jumps up and grabs a loaf of bread, butter, jars of peanut butter and jelly, a knife, and returns.
    “Milk?”
    She sniffs the carton in the fridge before bringing it over and setting it on the table with two glasses.
    I don’t know much about the Iron Bulls or bikers or hell, men in general really, but I’m starting to get a sense of things. “So, Romeo’s probably banged every chick I see in this clubhouse?”
    She shudders and I’m struck with what an awkward question that is for her. Dante’s probably screwed all those girls, too. “How can you stand that?”
    “I trust Dante.”
    Why? He could do whatever he wants while she’s away at school or whatever. How would she ever know the difference?
    “I hope you’re still practicing safe sex.”
    She gives me a sharp glare and thrusts the butter knife in her hand at me. “Here, butter your own bread.”
    That’s fine, she never uses enough butter anyway.
    “What’d you want to talk about?” I ask when she looks a little less pissed.
    “Promise not to judge me?”
    Oh, shit. I really hope she’s not pregnant.
    “I won’t. Spill.”
    She fiddles with her sandwich and won’t meet my eyes. “I found out I have a sister.”
    “Holy shit. When? How?”
    “My father’s a two-timing pig.”
    This doesn’t surprise me.
    “Well, what’s she like?”
    “I don’t know yet. Dante’s going to get her number from my father.”
    “Wait, why Dante?”
    “He had a talk with my father.”
    I almost choke on my sandwich as I picture big scary Dante talking to Karina’s weasel of a father. It makes me like Dante even more. I kind of hope his massive fists were a part of their conversation. While my parents kept me in line with a constant stream of criticism and insults, Karina’s father’s parenting style can only be described as absent.
    “Do you think you can stick around to go with me to meet her?” Karina asks.
    Crapcrapcrap . I can’t say no to my best friend. But I’m also afraid the longer I stay here with Romeo, the harder it will be to leave.
    I have to follow my dream. I have to. I’ll die if I repeat my mother’s mistakes. Never leaving the small town where I grew up. Marrying the first man who paid me any attention. Or worse, falling in love with a big, bad biker and then getting my ass kicked to the curb when he’s bored with me. Giving Romeo the power to hurt me that way goes against everything inside me. I might as well slit my wrists now if I’m going to throw my life away.
    I almost regret not listening to my parents about applying to college.
    “Athena?” Karina’s soft voice pulls me out of the life-choices-freak-out I’m having.
    Calm down. You’ve got a plan.
    “I have to be there by the twenty-fifth. I’m signed up for a class.”
    She raises an eyebrow. “Really?”
    Heat floods my cheeks and I duck my head. “An acting class. It’s supposed to be a good way to network and get auditions.”
    “That’s good. So you have a plan?”
    “Sort of.”
    She nods as if that makes her happy.
    “I’ll be back for Fourth of July.”
    “Okay.” She rolls her bottom lip and chews on it for a second. “Shit. I don’t know what I’m going to do without you around.”
    “You’ve got Dante to keep you busy.”
    She gives me a sad smile. “Yes. But it’s not the same.”

4
    I hate letting Athena out of my sight for more than the few minutes I allow her to go to the bathroom in private. When the girls return from the kitchen—finally—I pull her into my