Read Online The Arrangement 14 by H. M. Ward - Free Book Online

finally speaks, “Your husband should be your best friend—he shouldn’t scare you. I’m all for you being happy, Avery, but it sounds like he’s a dipshit. Actually, I know he is.”  
    I’m biting my upper lip, thinking. “So you think I should take the job with Black and leave Sean?”  
    He pushes up off the floor. “I think you should do what makes you happy. Out of everyone I know, you deserve happiness the most.” He reaches down, extending his hand toward me. “Come on. I’m taking you to Friendly’s. You need ice cream—a Jim Dandy Sundae.”  
    I take his hand and Marty pulls me to my feet. He’s so strong that I nearly smack into his chest. I stand there for a second. Our eyes are locked and I know how hard it must be for him. I couldn’t be around Sean and listen to him bear his soul about someone else. I’d rather shove splinters into my eyes. He remains close, looking down at me with his soft brown eyes. “Thank you for helping me.”  
    “Anytime.” Marty’s gaze remains locked on my face for a breath longer, and then he turns away.  
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER 11
     
    After Marty dresses in his hippie attire, we head back to my room. I need to grab clothes and shower. “I shouldn’t be here. Someone took a shot at me the other day.”  
    By the time I say it, we’re already in my room. Amber’s been here and dumped half her closet onto my bed. She totally trashed the room and it still smells like smoke. Her bed sheets are rumpled and there’s a watermark on them—still fresh. She’s so disgusting. I take all of her crap and dump it on her bed.  
    “I wish she’d keep her crap on her side of the room. I hate it when she does this.”  
    Marty grabs my elbow. I wince and he releases me. The wound still hurts. “What the fuck is going on with you? Who took a shot at you?”  
    I shake my head. “Not now. Let me get my stuff and get out. If Sean or Black finds out I was here, well, I’d just rather not.”  
    Marty stiffens, and folds his arms across his chest. He looks like a hippie that could take out Manhattan. Irony. “Fine. Hurry up. I’ll watch the door, and it goes without saying that anyone that messes with you while I’m around dies.”  
    I smile at him. The words are so wrong that it’s ridiculous, especially coming out of his mouth. “Got it.”  
    I manage to shower, change, and grab a bag of clothes before taking off again. Marty and I leave the room and that’s when we run into Amber.  
    “Whore,” she says as she walks by.  
    I stop and turn back, “I’m not the one that has come stains all over my sheets. And, oh yeah, don’t throw your crap on my bed. I took the liberty of putting your stuff back on your side of the room. You might want to move that silk slut shirt you like so much. It would be a pity if it got wet.”  
    Marty looks bored. “Seriously? You two are going to have another cat fight? We should buy you both Catwoman costumes. At least that’d be more entertaining.”  
    “Shut up, queer,” Amber snaps at him. Marty just laughs in response, which makes Amber turn to nuclear bitch mode. “Laugh it up, because while you two were out talking about boy problems, I was in there actually fucking a real man.”  
    “I think you meant three or forty.” Marty replies with a grin on his face. “I forget how whorey you are when we don’t see each other for a few days. You see, me, I’m a one guy kinda girl and so is Avery. We’re romantics and you’re disgusting. Like she said, silk shirt, bottom of the pile of shit Avery tossed on your bed. Better go get it.”  
    “I’m going to get even with you for that, you skank!”  
    People are watching us now. A few doors have opened and some students mill at the end of the halls. “Go ahead and try.” I turn away to leave, but Amber laughs that horrible cackle of hers which makes me turn back.  
    She’s holding up her phone. “Who wants to see Avery sexting with my man?”