Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

Stella was silent, her mind churning as Yorick mentioned the Larkin and Quarry families. It hit her then - Ursula's mess was probably Ronald's doing too.

Wait a minute. Ronald had seemed peeved when she mentioned her car accident.

Stella couldn't hold back her sarcasm. "Wow, Yorick, still got the nerve to be snippy with me, huh? Color me impressed."

He knew full well the drama involved her, yet here he was, adopting that tone over the phone.

Stella retorted, "Just a friendly reminder, pal. Ursula cost me a lot two years back. And you know, I've got this flaw where if someone owes me, I'm not comfy until I see some interest on that debt." Her words made it sound like she was the bully.

So, when they were pushing her around, they were the saints?

Stella snorted, adding, "Twice the cost seems fair to me."

That set Yorick off. "Stella," he bellowed, anger vibrating through each syllable.

But before he could continue, Stella hung up.

So it's Ronald's doing? Not hers to worry about. Ursula's mess was her own fault.

Stella had been ready to overlook Ursula's supposed ailments, as per Tegan James' account. But she didn't expect Ronald to...

Thinking about how Ronald had always had her back, a warm feeling spread through her, despite not knowing where this situation would lead them.

...

able to muster the

making it hard

door, Stella looked up, her

clinging to his shoulders and hair,

scooping Stella up from the floor. "What happened,

"It hurts...

pain and weakness were new to

holding her, immediately

on the

up.

minutes later, Finley was

102 degrees. "How did it get this high?

Stella

Mentioning her s

her tense up, her.

swnol

indeed, in a rather

Stella's silence, Finley pressed,