Page 186 of The Monster and the Masochist

“Why would I care what Stacy and Deb think? Stacy failed the bar three times, and Deb still can’t get through a deposition without having a nervous breakdown. Maybe if they spent less time worrying about me and focused on themselves, they’d be less shit at their jobs, and I wouldn’t have to be such a ‘cunt’ all the time. But… alas. Here we are.”

My mouth parted slightly in surprise, and Cass grinned, looking amused.

“I think it’s sweet, though, that you got all huffy and growly about it. You trying to protect me, baby?” she hummed, leaning in close so she could brush a kiss against my lips.

“Well, yeah. I’m obviously not going to be cool with people talking about you like that. Nolan had to literally hold me back.”

Nolan nodded solemnly. “I did. We almost had a blood bath on our hands.”

Cass smothered a laugh behind her hand, her brown eyes shining with mirth.

“Well, don’t you worry, Theodora. When I am queen, those bitches will be the first against the wall. Until then, just ignore them. It’s always miserable assholes who’re unhappy with their own lives that try to tear other people down. Having haters just means you have something they don’t and they’re salty about it.”

Her eyes were shining as she reached out to brush a lock of hair back out of my eyes.

“And believe me, Theo. I have a lot of things worth being jealous over.”

“Ugh, hurry up, I have to pee so bad,” I complained as I limped next to Theo on our way toward the front doors of the Antoinette.

“Why don’t you go now? It’s like a twenty-minute drive home, and we still need to call an Uber.”

I glanced up at her with a scowl.

“My feet hurt too much. I don’t want to hobble all the way over there in these shoes.”

“Yeah, I can tell your feet hurt. You’ve been limping all night.”

“Ugh I know. I should have broken these in first. I know better than to just wear a fresh pair to an event right out of the box, but they’re just so perfect for this outfit, and I didn’t really have time.”

Theo frowned at me and abruptly stopped walking.

“They really hurt that bad?” she asked, and I nodded, pouting slightly.

I was probably going to have nasty blisters all over my damn feet by the time we got home.

Ugh.

“Here, trade with me,” Theo said, stepping out of her Gucci loafers and bracing her hands on my shoulders to steady me as I teetered before her.

My lips parted in surprise, and I glanced down at her now bare feet, completely shocked that she would offer to do such a thing.

Did she even know how to walk in heels?

What the fuck was happening right now?

“Come on, princess. Put these on and go to the bathroom. I’ll call us an Uber while I wait.”

“Uhm. Okay…” I murmured, still feeling totally floored that this was actually happening.

Damn.

Being with a woman was the fucking best.

A man could never.

Bracing myself on Theo’s shoulders, I gingerly stepped out of my designer torture devices, and I sighed in relief as I slipped my aching feet into Theo’s much more comfortable loafers.

She smiled at me, looking pleased.