Pretty Toxic - A New Adult Romance (Imperfectly Yours) by A. Gardner Page A

shoulders.
    “Relax,” Zanna chuckles. “I’ll just pick the lock.”
    “No,” I scold. “You can’t break into the place where I work, idiot. I’ll get fired for sure.” I nudge her on the shoulder because I know, despite her playful tone, she’s dead serious. Breaking and entering. That’ll go over well when I’m job searching in a couple years.
    Zanna tilts her and looks at me like I’m the whiney kid she’s stuck babysitting.
    “I’m only trying to help, Miss Drama.”
    “By breaking the law? I’m one hundred percent sure there are cameras in there.”
    “Okay,” she responds in a high pitched vo ice. She scans the building and starts walking around the back. A black alley is around the corner. I’m not sure what it looks like during the day, but there’s a tiny spot of light near the end.
    “Where are you going?” I whisper. “Stop.”
    “Shhh.” Zanna keeps walking like it’s no big deal.
    “You can’t go down there.”
    “Watch me,” she scoffs. Zanna stays close to the brick wall and takes one step at a time towards the light. I have no choice but to follow her. I’m not going to be left alone in the dark. My heart starts racing. The closer we get the more I realize the light is coming from an open door. Zanna’s right. That’s our way in. Probably cleaning people.
    She takes another step. I hold the edge of her jacket. She takes another soft step then stops suddenly. The light is blocked by two figures. She crouches down and I follow suit. A dumpster blocks most of us. Voices ring through the night.
    “I told you this wasn’t a good idea,” I whisper.
    “Shhh.” She leans forward a little trying to listen. The voices mumble at first but the longer we stay still, the clearer they become. A man and a woman.
    “I can’t keep doing this, Matt.” The woman sounds stressed. My heart keeps racing. I can hear it in my ears. The voice is familiar.
    Scarlett.
    I squeeze Zanna’s arm. She nods, listening intently.
    “But Scar,” Matt replies in a low voice. “I need you.”
    I don’t have a full view of them but I’m pretty sure he’s touching her. I am going to be sick.
    I tug at Zanna’s arm. I’ve seen enough. Matt pulls Aunt Scarlett back inside and this time Zanna follows my lead back to the car. I clutch my sides, trying to comprehend what I just saw. It feels like an eternity before Zanna unlocks the door. I sit and catch my breath.
    “She lied,” I mutter. “She said she was at work . . . but she lied.”
    “Mmm,” Zanna smiles, starting the car. “What a clever little-”
    “This isn’t funny.” I duck down and instinctively cover my face. I remember all the times Aunt Scarlett said the Haskells were a family of scumbags . . . hypocrite. But that isn’t the worst of it. My Aunt is sleeping with Matt Haskell. Dane’s dad.

Chapter Fifteen
     
    “. . . the two of them are having sex.”
     
    I want to stay up and wait for Aunt Scarlett. I want to tell her exactly what I’m thinking.
    I don’t.
    Zanna forces chocolate ice cream down my throat instead. I can’t face my aunt. She’s been lying this whole time.
    “Say something.” Zanna patiently waits for me to speak. I shake my head. What else can I say except I freakin’ hate being a Copelun. Nothing goes right for me.
    “I’m never speaking to her again,” I mumble.
    “Sure.”
    “I’m serious.”
    “So she’s getting it on with the wealthiest man in Seaside. Can you blame her?”
    Eww . A comment that suggests the two of them are having sex. My expression turns sour.
    “Quit saying that,” I answer. “You’ll make me barf all over the place.”
    “Drama queen,” she laughs. She licks another spoonful of her cookies and cream. Zanna still stopped for ice cream on the way home despite my sudden loss of appetite. She insisted that the chocolate would make me feel better. So far it’s only made things worse. Every time I stare at my cup it reminds me of when Scarlett and I would eat ice