Chapter 15
The party’s loud and packed, and I’m about ten drinks deep, trying to ignore the restlessness that’s been eating at me. I haven’t slept in days, my head’s all over the place, and nothing’s been enough to shake off that familiar itch under my skin.
So, when a hot brunette in a mask practically threw herself in my lap the second I walked in, I figured, why not? Anything to distract myself. She is one of the regulars from the parties.
Angela? No. I think her name is Emma.
I don’t know, and honestly, I don’t really care.
She’s down on her knees now, her hands on my thighs as she works her mouth over me, but damn, it’s not doing it. Not even close. I watch her head move up and down, her hands gripping, her lips stretched around me, but it’s like I can barely feel it. She’s not doing it right. She’s not Remy.
I bite back a groan, irritated as hell, reaching down to adjust her mask, trying to find a spark, something to make this worth it. Her mouth goes deeper, but I’m still bored out of my mind. Just as I’m about to tell her to ease up, there’s a sharp knock on the door.
“Occupied!” I grunt, rolling my eyes.
But the voice from the other side makes me freeze. Caleb.
“Bro, get out here, man,” he says, a little too urgently.
The girl takes me to the back of her throat but it is really doing nothing for me.
I groan, running a hand through my hair, and give the brunette a half-hearted grin. “Sorry, sweetheart, guess it’s your unlucky night,” I mutter, tucking myself back in. She looks up, annoyed, but I’m already moving.
Out in the hall, Caleb’s waiting, his own mask covering half his face, but his expression’s serious.
“What?” I snap.
He lowers his voice. “Remy’s here.”
I feel my blood turn to ice, and before I can stop myself, I’m asking, “Where?”
“Out front,” he says, smirking a little. “Thought you’d want to know.”
“Damn right,” I mutter, pushing past him. I’ve barely taken three steps before I see her, standing there talking to Declan.
Declan’s leaning in, all interested, that stupid smirk of his plastered on his face, and he’s saying something that makes her laugh. Just seeing her here, laughing with him, does something to me I can’t explain. I’m across the room before I know what I’m doing.
“Declan,” I snap, stopping right in front of him. “Beat it.”
Declan looks up, surprised, then grins. “Easy, Coburn. Just saying hi.”
“Now,” I growl, and something in my tone must tip him off because he raises his hands in surrender.
“Alright, alright. No need to get territorial.” He winks at Remy before slinking off, and I’m already biting back the urge to punch him.
Remy’s staring up at me, arms crossed, eyes sharp. “What the hell, Zane?”
“You shouldn’t be here,” I say, voice low, stepping closer. “What the hell are you doing here?”
She scoffs, glancing away. “You’re really one to talk. I tried calling, in case you forgot.”
“Yeah? Well, you’re one to fucking talk too, aren’t you?”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” She looks back, eyes narrowed, and her jaw’s set, like she’s gearing up for a fight.
“I’m done with this, Remy,” I bite out, crossing my arms. “I know how this goes— you still have feelings for your little boyfriend, right? Still hung up on him, while I’m just standing here, yanked around like a goddamn puppet.”
She sucks in a breath, biting her lip in that way that makes me crazy. Her eyes flash, and I catch her pushing her glasses up, adjusting them over that ridiculous smoky eyeliner that’s making her eyes look darker, sharper.
“Zane,” she says, voice softer, almost hesitant. “Can we talk?”
“No.” The answer’s out before I can think twice. This isn’t happening. I can’t let her twist me up all over again just because she decided she’s bored. Or because Colin left her because I fucking told him to.
She lets out a low breath and then turns, walking out of the room without another word. She’s headed straight toward the clearing outside, the path leading down to the lake— the one I took her to that first night, where everything between us started.
I clench my fists. “Remy, get back here. Now.”
She pauses, glancing over her shoulder with that damn defiant smirk. “No,” she says, turning back, quickening her pace. “Maybe I’ll find another masked man out there who wants me.”
The anger surges, something hot and dark, and before I can stop myself, I’m following her, out of the mansion, down the familiar path. She’s already halfway down to the lake, and I’m catching up fast, my jaw clenched tight.
“Are you fucking out of your mind?” I growl when I reach her. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
She spins to face me, her eyes blazing, the moonlight catching on her dark-lined lashes. “Trying to talk to you, Zane! But you’re too busy running off, ignoring me— why? Is there a reason Maya is also ignoring me? Did you fucking recruit her to your side? She is my friend.”
Wow! I did not know that Maya was picking my side and ghosting her too. A part of me feels bad that she has had to deal with this on her own, but then I remember how stupid I had felt that night. Watching her smile at him… after she had been mine.
She was supposed to be mine.
My little slut.
The girl I could not stop thinking about. But despite how much I try to pretend, yes, my ego was bruised by it all.
“You really want to know why?” I step closer, closing the space between us. “Because I’m not your backup plan, Remy. I don’t sit around waiting for you to figure out your messed-up little love life.”
“Backup plan?” She scoffs, crossing her arms. “You’re one to talk. I’m just supposed to ignore the fact that you’ve been with half the campus, including tonight?”
“That’s none of your business.” My voice is colder than I mean it to be, but she’s hitting a nerve, one I don’t want touched.
“Oh, I see,” she says, her tone mocking. “So, you can move on, but I can’t even talk to my ex?”
So, he did break up with her.
“That’s different.” I step in, and she doesn’t move back. I’m so close, I can smell her perfume, that hint of vanilla and something sharp that always messes with my head.
“Oh, is it?” Her eyes meet mine, daring me, her jaw tight. “Why, Zane? Why’s it different?”
“Because he’s not the one standing here with you. Right now, that’s me.” I’m practically growling, my voice low and dark. I grab her arm, pulling her closer, and she stares up at me, that fire in her eyes flaring up, like she’s daring me to do something about it.
“Zane,” she murmurs, softer now, and I hate the way my body responds to it, to the way she’s looking at me. “I came here because I wanted to see you.”
“Why?” I ask, my grip tightening. “So, you can screw with my head a little more? Get what you want and leave?”
She flinches, her mouth parting slightly, and for a second, I think I might’ve actually hurt her. But she squares her shoulders, staring up at me with that same defiant look.
“Maybe I just miss you,” she whispers, barely audible.
I want to roll my eyes. “Miss me? You’ve been asking me to leave you alone for weeks, and you just decide to show up now? Why? Because your perfect fucking boyfriend broke up with you?”
She opens her mouth, ready to protest, but I cut her off. “No, no, save it. I’m not your emotional punching bag, Remy. I can’t keep doing this.”
“Doing what?” she fires back, stepping into my space, her breath warm against my skin. “You’re the one who keeps shutting me out!”
“Because I don’t know how to handle this,” I shoot back, the frustration pouring out of me. “I thought I could let you go back to him, but you’re goddamn impossible to fucking forget. I’m not supposed to want you like this.”
Her expression softens, and I can see the hurt flash across her face. “Zane, I—”
“No,” I cut her off, my heart racing. “You don’t get to say anything else. Not after how you left me hanging. You went running back to him!”
“I had to figure things out!” she retorts, her voice rising. “And you’re one to fucking talk, Zane! I saw you come out of that room with that girl!”
“Oh, you saw that, huh? I wasn’t screwing her,” I say, but the denial sounds weak.
“Oh, please. I’m not blind. You were in there with her for some good fucking time, weren’t you, Zane?” she says, frustration seeping into her tone.
“Yeah? Well, you weren’t there, so you don’t know what happened. I was just trying to forget you, okay?”
Her lips part, and for a second, I think she might just get angry again, but instead, she steps closer, her eyes searching mine. “I don’t want you to ever forget me.”
I watch her blink up at me, her hazel eyes filled with tears.
She was meant to be mine. She is mine.
“Run,” I groan.
She looks around before whispering a weak, “What?”
“Run, Remy. If you want me to chase you then I will, but you better run. Because when I catch you, I am fucking you. And after I do, I am not letting you go ever. But if you don’t want that, you better turn around and head back inside. Your choice little slut. ”
I see the corner of her lips tilt up in a smile before she turns around and takes off.