Page 175 of Vexatious Queen

NASHOLE: Yes, and your buddy Sabastian. You should be proud that I haven’t drowned him yet.

R: I’ll have a medal made for you.

NASHOLE: Fuck the medal. I want one of those massive trophies that they give out for cheer competitions.

I snickered, and Rory looked up. “Sorry.”

R: Would you like it pink and gold and sparkly, too?

NASHOLE: Fuck that! I want it black and red with flames cause I’m hot.

R: LOL! What you are is insane. But I’ll look at the schedule and see what we can do.

NASHOLE: I’d better go. Richards is about to start. Thanks, and I don’t care whose night it is, you’re mine tonight.

My mouth curved up.

R: Okay.

NASHOLE: Okay? That seemed too easy.

R: Well, now you can spend the rest of practice and the drive back wondering what I really meant.

NASHOLE: That is just pure evil, Princess.

R: But you like it.

NASHOLE: I do. Okay gotta jet. Love ya, hate ya, all the things.

R: Right back at you. See you later.

I set the phone down and shook my head. He was mental sometimes, but I did love it. His texts were oddly refreshing, a contrast to the dark and brooding persona he loved to lean into in person.

“How is the quiz going?”

Rory looked up from the mock quiz I’d given him and nodded.

“I think I’m done. Just checking over what I wrote.”

My phone vibrated again, and I rolled my eyes, but it wasn’t Nash. It was Lizzy. I quickly unlocked it to see what she said.

L: Hey, Boo. I just wanted to say sorry again for what I said and for Rylan. I love you, and I don’t know what I’d do without you in my life. I’m just so all over the place, and I say random shit, and then immediately wish I could take it all back. I wish I could take back our last conversation. I was a bitch, and I’m sorry.

R: Girl, there is nothing in this world that could make me stop loving you. Besides, I love that you just say whatever pops into your head. It is just one of your more endearing qualities. Even when it’s hurtful. I love you, too. I’m not angry. I am surprised about Rylan, though. More about the fact that he wouldn’t support you at all. I mean, I knew he could be a jerk, but this…

L: It’s not his fault. We were both super drunk, and as soon as I woke up and realized what happened, I took off. I messaged him when I found out that I was pregnant and told him that I wasn’t ready to have a child. He said neither was he, and that was the last we spoke.

R: You didn’t talk at all about the options?

L: No. He asked what I was going to do, and I said that he didn’t need to worry. That…I would handle the situation.

R: You do know that sounds like you planned an abortion, right?

L: Yeah, I guess it does. But he didn’t argue, so what does it matter? I’m giving the baby to an amazing couple.

R: I guess…don’t you think you should tell him? I mean, he might want to know in case the baby turns eighteen and decides to look up his biological parents or something.

L: Hmm…I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll think about it. Oh, speaking of parents, I snagged a picture of me with the couple. They are like super private and don’t want me to post on my socials, but Leah said I could send the photo to you.