Ruin My Life (Mangled Masterpieces #1)

16. Remy

16

Remy

I 'm out of the SUV before Win even puts it in park, cursing him under my breath as I suck in air not contaminated by the poisonous aroma of his cologne. It’s been eroding the few logical brain cells remaining in my head.

The memory of his pecs beneath my palms and his hot breath ghosting my ear with debauched taunts has me suppressing a shiver. His sinful mouth was right there for me to devour. My cock hasn’t been this hard in years, which is highly inconvenient since he’s the bane of my fucking existence.

A car door slams.

“Slow down!” Andrea calls.

I pick up the pace.

At least the line isn't long. The Landing is the only bar with decent drinks and a dance floor near campus, so it's usually packed on Friday nights. A stream of giggling girls barge past, ankles wobbling in their five-inch heels as they toss flirty looks my way. Typically, I can’t stand the rowdy crowd, but the second Andrea suggested going out, I agreed, convinced Win— a recovering addict— wouldn't follow.

Apparently, the imbecile will follow me anywhere, even into a den of vices.

Fingertips brush my lower back.

I almost trip.

Is he torturing me on purpose? Probably. A lock of raven hair hangs over his forehead, skimming his thick black lashes. I’ve never met another man with as distinctly beautiful features as Win. He has the kind of rare face that modeling agencies trample over themselves to sign, with skin so smooth and pale he appears carved from marble.

Looking at him physically hurts.

I shy away, but his palm flattens above my ass, guiding me into the line. That point of contact is all I can focus on.

“Stop it,” I hiss.

He ignores me.

An excited shriek catches our attention.

A petite blonde emerges from an Uber and ambushes Andrea in a hug. My best friend laughs while the girl babbles and gestures wildly. As they approach, I recognize her: Andrea’s old roommate. Her attention skips over me to the tattooed devil angled into my side. She flashes him a seductive smile.

My jaw clenches.

“Rem, you remember Melody,” Andrea says, hooking her thumb at the doll-like girl arching to ensure her cleavage is front and center.

Mentally I scream, “ He's not interested in your perky tits, he’s gay! ”

I give her a closed lip smile .

“Been a while, Sully,” Melody teases, referring to me by the shortened version of my last name. To Win, she bats her lashes. “Though… I haven’t seen you around here.”

I'm physically biting my tongue to avoid pointing out that her flirtations are a lost cause.

“Because I’ve never been here before,” Win deadpans.

Andrea and I exchange amused looks. I cough to hide my smile. Now would be a great time to remember how many nights I cried over him.

“Not here, silly,” Melody giggles, completely oblivious. “I mean, did you just transfer to FMU?”

Andrea cringes.

Win isn't phased. “I failed out of school.”

Good god, this just keeps getting worse.

“Oh, um, well,” Melody stammers, “School isn’t for everyone.”

“Clearly.”

The inside of my cheek is going to bleed if I bite it any harder. His disinterested, expressionless delivery kills me. Don’t laugh. Don’t laugh. Don’t. Fucking. Laugh.

Meanwhile, Andrea is doing absolutely nothing to rescue this poor girl from humiliating herself further. The line progresses and Win gently prods my spine with a knuckle.

It's equivalent to an electric shock.

I shoot him a glare.

He smirks.

Bastard .

“I’m dying for a martini,” Melody whines, slinking closer to Win. “Let me guess, you’re a bourbon guy.”

He blows out an exasperated sigh. “Used to be.”

Melody cocks her head, blonde curls cascading over her shoulder. “Got sick of it?”

“Got addicted to it,” he counters, jamming a toothpick between his perfect teeth. “Pills too. Coke on occasion. LSD freaked me out, but I fucking loved ecstasy— that shit’s incredible.”

Melody’s blue eyes bug like a cartoon.

Andrea’s smile droops into a frown.

My stomach twists painfully. Hearing him speak about it so casually shocks me; it’s a reminder how much of his life I know nothing about. How much I've avoided learning out of fear and resentment. I’m terrified of those new parts of him. Those broken pieces have the power to make me empathize. Understand. Accept.

Forgive .

I don’t think I’m ready.

Thankfully, we reach the front of the line before Melody has time to respond to Win’s admission, though, out of the corner of my eye I catch Andrea grasp his hand. I can barely make out her voice over the pounding base and roar of conversation, but I read her lips.

“ You sure you can handle this? There’s a lot of temptation in there.”

He swallows hard, jaw rolling as he glances past the bouncer where blue and white lights strobe and drunk laughter weaves through upbeat dance music.

My breath catches when his trembling hand finds my waist.

“The only temptation I can’t resist is right here.”

I can’t handle when he says shit like that.

The bouncer ushers us forward, checking IDs and slapping on wristbands. Melody attempts to squeeze next to Win, and I take the opening, diving into the mob crowding the bar.

I need to get away from him or I’ll do something astronomically stupid…

Like give in to temptation too.