Next round, Garrett lost.[]


    His punishment? Pick any girl <b>in </b>the room and give her a hickey on her chest.


    Something about this whole party felt dirty as hell.]


    I’d just texted him–he’d obviously seen it but was pretending he hadn’t.]


    Now he was reaching for his drink, probably nning to take the penalty shot instead.]


    But Tiana beat him to it, plopping right down in hisp and wrapping her arms around his neck.[]


    What’s wrong with you?” she yelled. “Got yourself a girlfriend and forgot about daddy?“[]


    “It’s just a damn hickey!“[]


    “Come on, daddy’s got you covered!“]]


    The whole room cracked up again.]]


    Garrett’s buddies started half–heartedly trying to intervene.]


    “Come on, Tiana, give the guy a break. His girlfriend’s right here.”


    “Yeah, knock it off.” Another friend reached over to pull her away.


    But Tiana’s eyes were ssy, her lips in a pout as she whined, “It’s just for fun! What’s the big deal?“|||


    She turned back to Garrett, pushing her chest out: “Garrett, you want this hickey or not?”


    And just like that, she pressed those D–cups right up against his face.]]


    Garrett’s ears immediately turned red, and then–I shit you not–hetched onto that soft flesh like his life depended on it.]


    Tiana threw her head back, making these little “mmm” sounds like she was having the time of her life.]


    When Garrett finally pulled away, there was this angry red mark on her pale skin.[]


    Everyone started snickering with that gross, knowing vibe.


    The only <b>awkward </b>thing in the room was me being there.]


    I felt like I was gonna explode, but I kept telling myself to hold it together until we could talk privately.[]


    But then Tiana did something thatpletely blindsided me []


    She actually reached down and grabbed Garrett’s crotch–just a little squeeze, like it was nothing.]


    Then she giggled and said, “Damn<b>, </b>boy, you’re still growing, huh?“]]


    Garrett’s face went tomato–red, and when he looked at me, he couldn’t meet my eyes.]]


    Tiana acted like nothing happened, bouncing over to me with this fake–sweet smile.[]


    “Hey girl, you’re not mad<b>, </b>are you?“]]


    I started to get up. I needed air.]


    This was too much!]


    ?????


    And honestly, I was starting to wonder if Garrett and I were evenpatible.]]


    My parents had already expressed some doubts about him.[]


    T


    The whole ckwell family business was tanking, and they needed a serious cash injection to stay afloat.]]


    Mom had mentioned it in passing, but I’d brushed it off for three reasons:[]


    One, our families went way back–our parents had even joked about arranging our marriage when we were kids.[]


    Two, Garrett was gorgeous. Like, stupidly hot in exactly the way that got to me.


    Three, I’d always thought he was this sweet, gentle, stand–up guy.[]


    Today was shattering that illusion real quick.


    “Listen, girl,” Tiana was saying, “Garrett and I basically grew up in the same crib. We’ve got


    history.“]


    “Back in the day, he used to spread his legs and ask me to touch him, wanted to know if he was getting bigger.“]]


    I kept my face nk, just brushing her hand off my shoulder.[]


    She looked annoyed and pressed on<b>: </b>“What’s your name again? Sutton?“]


    “So I heard you’re mixed race? What kind of mutt are we dealing with here?“[]


    At the words, the whole room exploded withughter.[]


    “Leave it to our girl Tiana to keep it real! Mixed race–that’s just a fancy way of saying mutt, right?“[]


    I looked straight at Garrett.[]


    He wasughing too!]


    Was this shit actually funny to him?!]


    Tiana was eating up the attention, waving her beer bottle around like she was giving a toast.[]


    “These days, when animals get all mixed up, they ain’t worth shit anymore!“[]


    Another round of obnoxiousughter.[]


    SMACKI


    I pped her so hard the sound echoed through the whole room.[]


    Tiana stumbled backward, clutching her cheek as it swelled up red.]


    “You… you fucking hit me?!“)]


    “Damn right I hit you, you purebred bitch,” I shot back. “So what’s your worth? How much for the whole night?“]


    Before she could answer. I grabbed a fistful of her hair and pped her other cheek just as hard.[]


    I’d never been disrespected like this in my entire life!]]