The Stranger, page 24
“And that monstrosity in your pants is currently going to waste by all this unnecessary chatter.”
He barks out a laugh as he places me on my feet and reaches down to swipe my clutch off the floor. When he unclips the clasp and sees the accordion of rubbers I placed inside, his eyes snap back to me.
“Someone was getting a little ahead of themselves.”
“You’re the one who claims—despite your age—to have stamina in spades, Mr Prescott.”
“You just earned yourself another spanking for that comment.”
I beam up at him. “Goody, I can’t wait.”
He leans in to rest his forehead against mine. “Jesus, Delilah, what am I going to do with you?”
“Fuck me, I hope. You can save the spanking until we get home.”
He growls as he tears off a condom, unzips his trousers, and sheaths himself to the hilt. When he lifts me again, he uses his upper body to hold me to the wall as he delves back under my dress to push my underwear to the side.
“Buckle up, princess,” he says as he runs the head of his dick through my slick heat, coating himself. “I’m about to rock your world.”
“Now who’s getting ahead of themselves?”
“I’ve just added another spanking to the list.”
“I was hoping—” a long, drawn-out moan cuts my words off as I’m impaled in the best possible way.
Spencer made sure we were both put back together before we discreetly exited the janitor’s closet like two thieves in the night. He stole one last kiss from me before heading into the men’s restroom, while I made my way towards the ladies.
“If you get out before me, wait right here,” were his parting orders.
The last person I expected to see when I exited a few minutes later was my sister. The moment she saw me, she stormed in my direction.
“I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” she declares, grasping my arm and proceeding to drag me further down the corridor towards the exit. “I need a word.”
I try to dig my heels in to stop her from advancing us any further, but it’s fruitless since the floor under my feet is tiled. “If you are planning on killing me and doing away with my body, just know Spencer will come looking for me as soon as he realises I’m missing.”
She turns her head to look at me and rolls her eyes. “You are such a drama llama, Delilah. I’m not going to kill you; I just want to ask you a few questions.”
“If it’s about my and Spencer’s relationship, I have nothing to say … it’s none of your business.”
Does she know what we just got up to in the closet?
“It has nothing to do with your fake relationship … and yes, Mum told me it was all a sham.”
Ugh, of course, she did. “I told her my original post was fake, but things between us have changed. We’re dating now.”
She lets out a sadistic laugh that is borderline manic. “Poor delusional, Delilah. People like Spencer Prescott don’t date losers, little sis.”
“Why do you find that so hard to believe?”
“Do I seriously need to answer that?”
“You know what?” I snarl, trying to tug my arm from her grip. “I’m not doing this with you.”
“Calm down,” she says, tightening her hold on me. “This will only take a minute.” When we reach the front of the building, she pushes us both through the door and into the frigid night air. Her long catlike claws dig painfully into my arm, and I know they’re going to leave a mark. “What you told me the last time I saw you at the house … about Kayne cheating? Were you telling the truth?”
“Of course I was. I had no reason to lie. I was trying to warn you.”
“You said you have proof.”
“An entire folder full. Including pictures, emails, and texts.”
“Where is it?”
“In my car.”
Her eyes widen. “You brought it with you tonight?”
“Yes, I never know what to expect when I’m around you, so I thought I’d cover all my bases.”
“Aww, poor Delilah,” she mocks. “Always so hard done by.”
“If you insult me one more time, I’m leaving.”
She blows out a puff of air. “Okay, fine. I’m sorry.”
It’s a hollow apology, but it’s more than I usually get from her.
“Can I ask why now?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why do you suddenly care? You didn’t seem that perturbed a few months ago.”
She turns her face away from me and stares off into the distance. “A few months ago I didn’t know I was pregnant.”
“You’re pregnant?” I was not expecting her to say that. I take a moment to let her admission sink in. “I bet his parents weren’t impressed with that news … given their religious views and all.”
“We haven’t told them, and I seriously don’t give a flying fuck what they think. I’m not a huge fan, and Kayne’s mum … she’s such a bible-bashing bitch.”
I’ll give her that. What I’ve found in my years being around Kayne’s family is that sometimes the most God-fearing people can also be the most hateful, cynical and judgemental. She most definitely had her moments where her perfect, holier-than-thou veil would slip. Like the death stares she was giving me tonight.
“This is your engagement party; you’re having his child. If you are worried that I’m going to oust him, don’t be. I’ve made peace with what he did.”
Her tortured blue eyes—which look a lot like mine—move back to me. “I don’t think the baby is his … actually, I’m pretty sure it isn’t.” These two are as bad as each other. Her clawed fingers reach back out to grasp my arms. “I’m trapped in this nightmare, and I don’t know how to get out of it without looking like the bad guy. That’s why I need your help. I have no other options.”
Of course, she wants to be the one left looking squeaky clean. It’s what narcissistic people do. “Are you planning to break things off with Kayne?”
“Yes! Jesus, Delilah, keep up. He’s a whiny man-baby, and I honestly don’t know how you put up with him for four long years.”
“I don’t either, if I’m being honest. The temper tantrums when he didn’t get his way, the mooching … and don’t even get me started on the butt sex.”
She throws her head back and cackles. “You’re too much. That’s one part I didn’t mind.”
“The mooching?”
“No, the butt sex.”
“Eww … you actually like that kind of stuff?”
“Grow up, Delilah. The sweet and innocent act you’ve got going on may initially draw the men in, but nobody wants a prude in the bedroom. Have you ever heard of the saying, ‘A lady in the streets and a freak in the sheets’? That’s what men really want from their women.”
“That’s sexist and gross.”
“Whatever,” she says, with a flick of her hand. “You should take that advice moving forward if you don’t want to lose the next one.”
“Hmm,” is my only reply.
“And yes, I hate that Kayne always has his hand out … it pisses me off. I’ve told him countless times to stop freeloading off me and to get a damn job.”
“Let me guess, his response was, ‘I can’t work and study at the same time’?”
“Yes,” she says, pointing at me. “I work and study.”
“Your Only Fans page?”
She gasps. “You know about that?”
“My boyfriend is a computer genius, Abby. I know everything. And FYI, Kayne is cheating on you too.”
She screws up her nose. “I figured as much. I saw some sketchy shit on his phone the other week when I was snooping. Will you help me get out of this mess, please?”
I owe this woman nothing, but on the other hand, she is my sister, and pregnant with my niece or nephew.
“I’ll give you everything I have on one condition.”
“Name it.”
“You don’t throw me under the bus.”
“Like literally?”
“No figuratively.” Although I don’t doubt she’d do that given half the chance. “I don’t want anyone to know where you got the information.”
“Cross my heart.”
“I mean it, Abigail. You have an uncanny way of swinging the narrative in your favour and coming out squeaky clean, leaving me looking like the arsehole.”
A smug smile curves across her lips as she blows warm air over the tips of her nails before rubbing them against her chest. “I know, it’s a gift.”
Ugh.
Of course she’d be proud of that fact.
After everything that has happened between us over the years, I don’t know if I can trust her, nevertheless, I turn and start walking towards the car park.
“Where are you going?” she asks.
“To the car.”
“Oh.” She quickly falls into step beside me. When we reach my BMW, she lets out a low whistle. “How many vehicles does this man own? This is the fourth one I’ve seen him drive.”
“Actually, this one is mine.”
“Yeah, right,” she scoffs. “As if you could afford something this flashy.”
“Spencer bought it for me. He didn’t want me driving the Mazda anymore.”
“Because he was ashamed of it? Like when he bought you new clothes because he was embarrassed of you.”
She is such a bitch.
“No, because he cares about me and is concerned for my safety … he thought the Mazda was a death trap.”
I don’t bother looking for her reaction, but her silence speaks volumes. I’m guessing her face just turned the same shade of green it did earlier when she got a look at my dress. Call me bitchy, but it’s these subtle moments that give me the warm and fuzzies.
If I wanted to be vindictive and really rub it in, I could’ve pointed out the personalised number plates that came with the vehicle, 4MYLUV, but I don’t.
Removing the fob from my clutch purse, I unlock the car and bend down to reach under the driver’s seat to grab the folder. Spencer doesn’t know I brought it with me tonight. It was purely a safeguard in case things went pear-shaped, but I never expected this.
“I owe you one,” she says, snatching the file from my hand and retreating a few steps. “I’m still pissed at you for Spencer, though.”
She spins abruptly to head back inside and walks straight into a wall of steel. When she stumbles back a step, Spencer reaches out to grasp her elbow, stopping her from falling on her arse.
He spies the file in her hands and his eyes move from her to me. Yikes. He looks extra growly.
I give him a look that hopefully conveys, I’m sorry, I’ll fill you in later.
His accusing eyes move back to my sister. “Why would you be pissed at Delilah?”
“Why wouldn’t I? She knew I wanted you, and she took that from me.”
“I was never yours to take,” he replies matter-of-factly.
“You know what I mean.”
“I don’t. The fact that you stole your sister’s fiancé kind of trumps that don’t you think? And for the record, you are not and never will be my type.”
This right here is another one of those moments. Each one of them breathes a little life back into my soul.
She clutches her non-existent pearls, feigning innocence. “I can’t be blamed for him not being happy with her.”
“That is still no excuse for what you did.”
She shrugs. “I have no problems sleeping at night.”
“You’re a piece of work.”
“I know your relationship is fake, Spencer,” she snaps. “So you can lose the high and mighty act.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Nothing about my relationship with your sister is an act. In the beginning, maybe, but it didn’t take long for Delilah to capture my heart.”
And there it is, my hat trick for the evening.
“Yeah right. Good one.”
“I don’t care what you believe, Abigail.” He speaks her name with such disdain. “This may be hard for you to hear, but I love your sister and one day I’m going to make her my wife.”
She lets out an audible gasp as she glances at me over her shoulder through narrowed eyes. When she storms away in a huff a few seconds later, I know my good deed is soon forgotten.
I’m suddenly the bad guy again.
“Are you okay?” Spencer asks, stepping up to me and wrapping me in his arms. “I told you to wait for me. I panicked when I couldn’t find you.”
“I’m fine, but don’t let your mother hear you talk like that,” I say, making him chuckle. “She’ll start planning our wedding.”
“What was all that about?”
“Abigail’s pregnant.”
“And you gave her the file. Why?”
“Because she’s pretty sure Kayne isn’t the father. She’s going to use his infidelities to break up with him … to save face.”
“Unbelievable.”
“I know.”
“You want to get out of here?” he asks. “I’ve had enough of these people for one night.”
“Soon,” I say. “Can we go back inside for a bit … I have a feeling that Kayne’s karma train is about to pull into the station.”
“You think she’s going to call him out here … tonight?”
“I wouldn’t put it past her. She’ll draw more sympathy if she does it with an audience. She thrives on playing the victim.”
“I’ve noticed.”
Chapter 33
Spencer
“God, I’d kill for some popcorn,” Delilah leans in and whispers in my ear as we both sit and watch the heated exchange going on in the corner of the room between Abigail and fuckface.
I can’t help but laugh at her request. She was right. Things are about to go down. And I’m just as eager to witness karma being served.
Toot, toot, motherfucker.
She deserves this moment after everything these two have put her through. I’d Uber her the biggest bucket of popcorn if I could, but it would never get here in time.
Suddenly, Abigail turns to face the DJ, slices her pointer finger across her throat, and it’s not until the room falls eerily silent that the theatrics begin. I’m genuinely perplexed by the distinct difference between my sweet girl and her deplorable sister.
It makes me wonder if my parents ever had a second child, would it have taken after my father? Maybe my half-sibling will when it’s born. I hope that isn’t the case … one of him in this world is more than enough.
Abigail’s eyes briefly scan the room, making sure that most of the attention is on her before she screams, “I can’t believe you’d do this to me, you cheating piece of shit!” I hear a few gasps from the ladies seated around us, and then the whispers start.
“He cheated on her, too?”
“Oh, poor Abigail.”
“I never liked him … now I know why.”
“What a creep!”
I wonder if the same things were said when it happened to Delilah. Somehow, I doubt it.
“Babe, I’d never do that to you,” he says, and despite his words, his now whitish complexion and wide eyes make him look as guilty as hell.
“Really,” Abigail seethes. “Explain all this then.”
She turns and swipes the folder Delilah gave her from the closest table and shoves it into his chest.
He grabs it and begins to flick through it. His expression gets grimmer by the second. “Where did you get all this?” he asks.
I feel Delilah tense beside me. I heard her ask Abigail not to throw her under the bus as I approached them in the car park earlier. She better keep her word.
I slide my hand under the table and wrap hers in mine, squeezing it softly … silently letting her know I’ve got her back.
“Delilah had Spencer spy on you,” Abigail screeches, and I instantly see red.
A few more gasps go up around us as all heads seem to swing in our direction.
I’m on my feet in an instant, pulling Delilah up with me. My arm immediately goes around her when I notice her bottom lip quivering.
“That’s a lie,” I retort. “Delilah had nothing to do with it. In fact, she was upset with me when she found out what I’d done.”
“You fucking arsehole,” the dick yells, pointing an accusing finger at me. “I’m going to sue you for this.”
I hate this fucking guy with a passion, but it’s Delilah’s sister I’m furious with right now. “For what? You gave me access to your computer.”
“I would never do that.”
“Did you not freely click on the link I attached in the group message between the three of you, where you and Abigail were attacking and bullying Delilah?”
They both pause and look at each other. When realisation sinks in, I struggle to hold back my laugh. “We never would’ve clicked on it if we knew what it was,” Abigail chimes in. “We thought it was something Dumb-Dumb-Delilah posted … she’s too much of a doormat to ever stand up for herself.”
“I can’t be held responsible for your stupidity, and your sister is more woman than you’ll ever be. You could learn a thing or two from her.”
“Like how to be a pathetic loser?”
“You are a despicable human being, Abigail St. James. You should be ashamed of how poorly you have treated your sister.” My eyes move from her to Kayne and then to Delilah’s parents. “You all should be ashamed.” Her father’s scowl deepens, but her mother bows her head.
As soon as those words are out of my mouth, Delilah takes a step forward and straightens her spine, and I know my feisty little spitfire is about to come out to play.
“If I were you, Kayne, I’d be getting a paternity test done when the baby is born. Abigail told me tonight she’s pretty sure it’s not yours.”
With that, all hell breaks loose.
The first thing I hear after another round of gasps is Mrs St. James’s high-pitched screech. “Abigail, you’re pregnant?”
The wail that Abigail lets out resembles the cry of a woman possessed. “You fucking cunt, I trusted you with that information,” she roars, heading straight for Delilah.
I quickly lunge forward and manoeuvre her to safety behind me. She’ll need to go through me first.
