Against a Wall (Stonecut County, #2)

by Cate C. Wells

bad anymore, though. Those days are over. “Glenna’s a big girl. She can make her own mistakes. And you aren’t her friend.” I give him my best dickish smile. “A friend would’ve dumped her before he hooked up with his ex, right?” His eyes bulge. He really thought I didn’t know? Like, fifty people told me as soon as they heard Glenna and I were together. This is Stonecut County. The only reason they don’t publish that kind of gossip in the paper is that everyone’s already heard it. I’m genuinely surprised Glenna doesn’t know. Her face is an open book, though. If she knew, she’d look at Toby with the same disdain she reserves for me. Toby’s gaze darts to the closed door behind me. “It would upset her,” he says, cagey. He’s trying to be slick. I shrug. “That is what I tend to do.” “You know she’s only with you to make me jealous. She hates you.” Toby’s lip curls. This guy. How much trouble would I have saved myself if I’d beaten the shit out of him the first time I had the inclination? Seventh grade. It could’ve all been over. Glenna would’ve never thought the sun rises and sets out of his pasty white ass. “You don’t need to worry about us, Toby.” I pat his shoulder. “I know how to take care of what’s mine.” I head back inside, and he’s almost to the stairs when I hear him mutter, “Toxic masculinity.”