Page 31 of No Cap

I gave it another two or three minutes before I put it in drive and peeled out of my spot.

I took one last glance in my rearview mirror to see the man I was most certainly not attracted to shaking his head at me.

Well, fuck him, too.

A woman’s anger is like a check engine light. There’s no easy way to know what caused it, so you just ignore it and hope it goes away.

—Text from Quincy to Hollis

HOLLIS

The first thing I did the next morning after waking up was curse Quincy Carter’s name.

It didn’t help that I’d dreamed about him the night before.

The dream was forgotten almost the instant I woke up completely, but the remnants of how I felt—hot and bothered—still lingered, even now, an hour after my eyes opened.

I’d just finished putting the final touches on my makeup, which consisted of mascara and glitter eyeshadow—because everyone needed a little sparkle in their life—when I heard the knock on my apartment door.

I ignored it, because I wasn’t expecting anyone, and got onto my favorite social media app.

Mainly I got on social media—with three minutes to spare before I needed to leave—to see if Alana had dumped Taite’s ass. But what I saw wasn’t what I was expecting.

A photo of the two of them as they ate at my favorite freakin’ breakfast joint.

That. Asshole.

Of course he had to ruin it for me there, too.

Then there was the video of the two of them eating, real time. Him eating my order.

Of course he was.

The woman who was obviously doing the recording came over the line.

“Breaking news, Taite DeRosa is currently out with girlfriend, Alana Eldorado… playing on each other’s phones, making wacky faces at each other over breakfast. Is this a match made in paradise?”

I nearly rolled my eyes.

Because, of course, what I showed her last night wasn’t enough.

Was she just doing this for the PR at this point? I mean, she was a B-list actress and Taite was the most beloved man in the world today with his hot body, his ‘humor’ and his personality and charm. If anyone was going to propel anyone toward A-list it was him.

The knock repeated at the front door, but I again ignored it.

Shaking my head at the audacity of her not making the move she should have, I picked up my most recent burner phone.

Last night, in the dead of night, I’d been doubting myself, thinking that maybe I should have more control and not do these things anymore. But then I’d reminded myself of Quincy’s asshole comments and decided that no one got to tell me how to live my life. Not even that hot, sexy beast of a man.

Flipping the burner phone open, I grinned maniacally.

It had one number saved in it.

Taite’s.

How did I get Taite’s number, you ask?

Kaylee. She’d gotten better at hacking, learning as she went.