Certifiable

Certifiable
GINGER

Obsessed?

Lincoln?

With me?

Didn’t Lincoln say as much, Ginger? How many times has Lincoln hinted at the very same thing?

It doesn’t matter, because it’s not true.

I nearly choked on my air. “Pff! Sure he is. That must be why he disappeared for three years after ruining my life, choosing to leave me with his deranged sister and his certifiable mother, because he was in love with me. Now why wouldn’t that make sense?”

“It’s true,” Ghost replied matter of factly, no doubt in his mind whatsoever. “Believe it, don’t believe it, that’s entirely up to you. I’m just trying to point out the obvious so you’ll get fucken dressed in one of the outfits that Lincoln bought for you, Goddess knows how long ago. One of the many, might I add, that he has been collecting like a fucking lovesick poodle since the very day I met him when he was sixteen.”

My face heated to absolute fire and my words of denial died in my throat as I contemplated the underwear and the bras and the sneakers and…all of it. My gaze swiveled toward the open closet. “He’s been collecting all of this since you met him?”

Ghost cocked his head. “I don’t know why you’re so surprised.”

My jaw locked open and it took more than a few tries to close it. “Because it’s crazy!”

Ghost released a half chuckle half snort and said, “Yeah. No shit. And trust me, telling him how crazy won’t do a damn bit of good. He’s a goner, that poor boy. In fact, right now, he’s probably shitting bricks because you haven’t shown up yet. Probably thinking you’re refusing to join him because he lied to you about the girl. Or, he’s getting paranoid and wondering how much of the shit I was talking was fact or fiction.”

My head snaps up. “What kind of shit were you talking?”

Ghost graced me with a panty dropping smile, his gaze lingering on my curves as he said, “Oh, you know, I may have embellished a little bit when I explained how I got you back up here, saying things like---I had to peel you from my chest because you didn’t want me to let you go.”

I scowled. “I think I remember jumping out of your arms the very second we stepped through the door.”

“We can agree to disagree. I like my version better, but Lincoln didn’t. Who knows…right about now he’s definitely questioning our friendship and I know he is because my phone has been vibrating in my back pocket for the last fifteen minutes.” He loses his careless grin. “Take the dress-” he closed my hands around the hanger “-put it on and if you don’t like what’s staring back at you in the mirror, then fuck it, go as you are now. But Red…you’re the hottest thing since butter was invented. You’re a mankiller! Go and show Zelda and Giselle that they don’t scare you. Especially now that you know what you are. An Alpha’s daughter. Don’t forget, Giselle knew about you the whole time and lied. She slandered your parents, saying they were cruel, greedy, Omegas. Pretending that they tortured her. Abused her. She spat on their memory and you need to get down there to make sure she’s held accountable. Please do this for me.”

He’s right. She did lie about my parents. And for what? Why? It doesn’t make any sense.

What did she stand to gain from that untruth? Is she that much of a sadist that she truly needed me punished for somebody else’s sins?

I should do it. I should go down there and ask her myself.

But then again, no matter what her answers are, it won’t erase the past three years. It won’t explain how anyone could go from loving a child that they raised for the first fifteen years of their life, to hating that child so much they felt the need to starve, degrade, and beat them practically on a daily basis. And all in the space of one evening.

“Hmmm…” I murmur, thinking it through. 

“Or, do it for you. Or do it for the little orphan boy who never got a chance to stick it to his Zelda,” Ghost said with urgency. "It doesn't matter who you do it for, so long as you do do it."

I studied him, searching his face for any indication that he might be toying with me, but all I found reflected back at me was a stone faced Alpha with a ridiculous amount of hope in his eyes.

“Fine!” I hissed. “At the very least, I can try it on.”

“Yes!” Ghost exclaimed, walking backward and heading for my bedroom door. “Your hair looks great, no need to brush it, make-up is a no-go, and I’ll be waiting in your new living room to escort you downstairs.” Then he shot me a wink and disappeared down the hall, slamming my bedroom door in the process and making me cringe.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I said to myself, peeling the black ops sweater and leggings from my body as I contemplated the dress once more.

It was a party dress, not a dinner dress, but it wasn’t so whorish that I couldn’t pull it off. I could. So long as I wore my hair down and around my shoulders and maybe added a cardigan to the look.

I already knew what Zelda would think of it. She’d hate it. Probably call me a harlot or worse.

And isn’t that right there enough of a reason to wear it?

Yes Brain, I believe it is.

Five minutes later, I sauntered down the hallway with the halter mini dress poured over me and the strappy heeled sandals tied around my calves. I chose to forgo the cardigan and twist my hair up into a messy bun, exposing my entire back in favor of pissing off the assholes just like Ghost suggested. That…and I wanted Lincoln to regret lying to me about tonight. I wanted to make him hunger for me so badly that he might sneak into my room and try to touch me. And then…I was determined to do the impossible. I was going to turn that sexy, lying, son-of-a-crazy-ass-bitch…down.
I was going to say, no.