Chapter 1
Nineteen years of growing up with Carter Hayes, he brought home a girlfriend.
First meeting? Boom–I’m the “girl bro.”
She crossed her arms, fake smile plastered on: “So you’re the famous girl bestie, huh? Gonna tell me his embarrassing childhood stories and swear you’re ‘just friends‘?”
She waved her phone around: “I’ve binged every fake–friends–to–lovers story out there. This innocent act? NOT fooling me.”
I stared at her smugness, completely speechless.
Then looked at Carter, he just shrugged and explained to his psycho girlfriend: “We’ve known each other since diapers. That’s it.”
But nope. She blocks me from everything–his Instagram, his contacts, the whole damn list.
Whatever. I mean… Let’s see how long the Hayes family lasts without their Winters family ATM.
Carter pulls a girl over at his twentieth birthday party:
‘Guys, this is Melody Quinn–my girlfriend.”
Melody’s rocking a pink cocktail dress, all smiles:
‘Just call me Mel!”
Everyone’s being polite, good vibes all around.
walk up, friendly smile ready:
‘Hey, I’m Sloane Winters.”
Her smile dies instantly. She looks me up and down with this bitchy smirk:
‘Oh, so YOU’RE Sloane? Carter talks about his ‘childhood bestie‘ ALL the time. Well, well, well.”
I can tell she’s about to start drama. But before I can say anything, she whips out her phone–some trashy romance novel on the screen:
“Oh please! The whole ‘childhood friends but secretly in love‘ thing? I’ve seen this shit a million times. You gonna tell me you two shared baths as kids and only you know he wet the bed, but you’re ‘totally just bros,‘ right?”
17:03
She Slaudered
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Chapter 1
She’s loud as hell. Everyone’s staring now.
Carter grabs her arm:
“Mel, stop it. Sloane and I are just childhood friends.”
“Childhood friends?”
She shakes him off, voice getting louder:
“Childhood friends buy you custom suits? Know your measurements and favorite foods? Carter, I can spot fake bitches from miles away–her little act doesn’t fool me!”
She shoots me this nasty look.
I almost laugh. We’re childhood friends–of course I know random stuff about him.
Our parents have been pushing us together for years, otherwise he wouldn’t even be in my social circle.
That suit? He begged me to help him order it last year. The Hayes family doesn’t have those connections, and he gave me his own measurements.
I feel nothing romantic for this guy. He’s not my type, and I’m too busy with our families‘ new business deal.
For Carter’s sake, I try explaining nicely. But Melody’s not hearing it:
‘Quit the act! Every side chick says that exact same shit! Carter’s MY boyfriend–back the hell off! You wore a dress to seduce him! Girl bros wear jeans, sluts wear dresses!”
With that, everyone’s looking at her like she’s insane.
They all know I always wear dresses. This chick’s completely delusional.
Carter’s face goes dark:
Mel, that’s enough. We’re seriously just friends.”
Melody’s eyes get all red:
You’re defending HER?”
Carter shoots me an apologetic look, but in her crazy mind, it’s some romantic moment. She loses it and tries to slap
me–Carter blocks her.
Tears start flowing as she screams:
‘Choose her over me and I’m GONE!”
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0286
Chapter 1
Dead silence. Nobody wants to touch this drama.
Mr. and Mrs. Hayes hear the commotion and rush over.
Seeing Melody crying. Mrs. Hayes asks gently:
“What’s wrong, sweetie?”
Melody acts like she found her savior, whining to Mrs. Hayes:
“Mrs. Hayes, Sloane’s been totally fake with Carter! She acts all innocent but she’s been after him this whole time! You gotta be careful–she’s super sneaky.”
Carter tugs on Melody’s sleeve, trying to shut her up.
But Melody ignores him and keeps going until Mrs. Hayes cuts her off:
“That’s enough. I get it.”
Then Mrs. Hayes looks at me nervously. Seeing I’m still calm, she relaxes slightly.
17:03
