Free Pretty Toxic - A New Adult Romance (Imperfectly Yours) by A. Gardner Page B

million responses. It might even explode and spurt out all of them. I stand up, my cheeks probably the color of fire about now.
    “You’re such a hypocrite,” I say, raising my voice louder than hers. It turns out to be more of a scream than a shout. Scarlett’s eye get wider. “Don’t tell me what to do okay. You have no right.”
    “Mikki,” she scolds. To my surprise she lowers her voice. Her eyes are a tad glassy as she forces herself to take a deep breath. “I just wish you would talk to me, you know. We were always so good at that but lately . . .”
    Lately we’ve had our worlds rocked by the Haskells. Both of us.
    “I know about Matt,” I sniff. Tears are streaming down my face. I don’t want them to but I can’t control it.
    “What?” She immediately leans back. Her face goes pale and she twists her mouth like she’s going to be sick. “What are you talking about?”
    “You and Matt,” I go on. My chest burns the entire time. Adrenaline races through my veins as the words finally leave my mouth. I can’t believe I’m saying this. I don’t do confrontations. I’m horrible at it. They only leave me feeling even worse about myself. Yet here I am telling Scarlett what I think.
    I don’t know if this is good or bad.
    “There is no me and Matt,” Scarlett replies. “He hired me once. That’s it.”
    “How can you say that? How can you lie to my face?”
    “I’m not!” she shouts.
    “You are,” I state firmly. “I saw the two of you together. Last night!” The color in her cheeks is flushed away. She’s chalk white. I stare at her, letting another tear run down my cheek.
    She’s speechless.
    “So it’s true,” I gulp. “You’ve been seeing him this whole time.” I shake my head. She glances off to the side, not saying anything. I want to sprint down the street until I hit the beach, then swim until I can’t move my arms anymore.
    I run to my room wishing Zanna really had come over and packed my bag. I dial her number the first chance I get, slamming my door so loudly it rattles the walls. I open a drawer and start tossing clothes on my bed. The line rings.
    “You change your mind,” Zanna laughs, finally picking up.
    “Actually yeah.” I pull a huge duffle bag from the top shelf in my closet.
    “Whatever girl. Quit pulling my chain.”
    “I’m not joking,” I answer. I sniff again and wipe the dripping mascara from my face. “Let’s go. Right now.”
    “Right now? But-”
    “Come get me.” I’m crying again. I hear silence on the other end.
    “I’ll be there in a sec.” Her voice is serious now. “You can spend the night at my place.”
    “Thanks.” I hang up and continue destroying my closet looking for the clothes I want to take with me. I cover my eyes with my palm as more tears come. I can’t stop them.
    Tomorrow I’ll be calling in sick.

Chapter Nineteen
     
    “One night won’t hurt.”
     
    “No call,” I sigh. I tug at my seatbelt and rest my head against the car window. Every road sign we pass I tell myself to turn around. I’ve never been outside of Oregon on my own.
    “I’m surprised he called you at all,” Zanna replies. Her gaze stays steady on the road. We’ve been driving all day. The first thing I wanted to do when I woke up this morning was drive until the sun goes down.
    I move positions for the hundredth time. Zanna’s car isn’t the most comfortable.
    “Don’t worry.” Zanna glances at me. “We’ll be there soon. Then you can stretch, run down the block, or whatever.”
    “Soon?” I sit up straight and observe our surroundings. I can see snow-capped mountains in the distance. Rich, green plains stretch out on both sides of us. The sun is going down and it’s leaving a gorgeous violet color hanging in the sky. We have a long way to go before we reach Vail. It wasn’t too long ago that a sign welcomed us to Colorado.
    “Yeah,” she smiles. “I thought we could crash with my cousin. He’s going to school not too far