Chapter 3
Allegra
“You didn’t tell me he’d be here,” I say, annoyed with Maverick but not surprised.
His blue eyes widen in surprise, whether from my appearance or my accusatory directness, I’m not sure.
My friend sighs and grips the back of his neck. “Because I knew you wouldn’t come.”
I raise my eyebrows sardonically. “You’d be right. And that would be my choice to make.”
Mav sighs and his eyes narrow. “You’re right; I’m sorry. But I’m glad you came, A. I miss you.”
At the sincerity in his tone, my anger cools. It’s not Mav’s fault the band left without me. After I woke up, alone, in the brownstone and realized they left for tour, I was devastated.
Then, furious.
But when I stopped by the group home to check up on the kids and make sure they were processing Buck’s death, Dre told me what he knew.
Derek said you’re sticking around for the funeral before meeting the guys in Europe.
Derek’s a motherfucking liar.
The thought whipped through my mind, but I didn’t voice it. Not then, and not now.
Call it pride. Call it pain. Call it whatever the hell you want but I don’t do more than purse my lips at Mav. “Miss you too.”
“Thanks for being here.” He slugs an arm around my shoulder and turns me toward a high-top table. Pressing a tumbler of whiskey into my hand, Mav kisses my temple. “I like your hair; you look good as a blonde.”
I snort and raise the amber liquid to my lips, taking a swig. “I heard they have more fun.”
“Is it true?” Humor lines his words.
“You tell me.” I glance up at my friend and feel a little steadier with him by my side. Deep down, I know Mav wouldn’t have ditched me if Derek hadn’t painted a believable story for my absence. Mav reached out before Levi and continued to do so over the past four months.
He even messaged to check in after the news broke that my brother is in rehab.
“I always have fun, A.”
“True,” I cede the point.
“How are you finding life as a blonde?” he asks curiously.
“So far, it’s all I hoped it would be.” I give him the truth, bumping my hip against his.
Being blonde has become my armor. A new look, paired with a new style, has given me the confidence I require to meet each day head-on.
Mav chuckles but I catch the flash of concern in his gaze.
I roll my eyes in response. “I’m good, Mav. Really.”
“Okay,” he agrees, lifting his glass. “Bottoms up, A.”
“Cheers.” I clink my glass with his and down the contents, even though it’s not a shot.
Now that Derek is here, I need the courage and excuses alcohol provides. It will strengthen my resolve, let me hold on to my anger, and give me the perfect excuse to dip out early.
I smile and accept another tumbler from a passing server.
“Take it easy, A,” Mav warns, glancing over his shoulder. I’m sure he’s looking for Derek, but I don’t care what either of them thinks.
I take another swig of whiskey.
“Allegra Rousell.” A guy I recognize approaches, squinting at me. “That you?”
“Ethan,” I laugh, greeting a fellow UCLA student. I haven’t seen him since junior year when we had a sociology course together. Back then, I had long, brown hair and wore cardigans. Of course, he doesn’t recognize me. Right now, I’m delighted to see him. “Hey!”
“Hey, girl.” He wraps an arm around my waist and kisses my cheek.
“I didn’t know you were coming tonight,” I gush, gripping his shoulders with both hands.
He pulls back slightly and gives me a confused look. Of course, I wouldn’t know he was coming; we haven’t talked since before summer. Since before I blew up my life. Still, I widen my eyes at him and hope he’ll play along.
“It was a last-minute thing,” he tosses out, correctly reading the desperation in my gaze.
Thank you, Ethan!
I snuggle closer into his side, and he palms the center of my back.
Mav watches me closely, his eyebrows pulled together, his mouth a thin line.
“Mav, this is Ethan. Ethan, Mav.” I do the introductions without informing either man what the other means to me.
Close friend who hurt me meet random classmate coming to my rescue.
“Hey, man.” Mav holds out a hand.
“Maverick Tate,” Ethan says. “Damn, it’s good to meet you. I didn’t realize you rolled like this, Allegra.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, well, you know me, Ethan.”
“Mm-hmm,” my friend agrees, giving me a smirk.
He thinks I’m playing hard to get for Mav’s sake. It’s preferable to the truth. That I am desperate to hurt Derek, to make him jealous, to make him react, anything so he can taste a sliver of the pain he caused me.
Let him think I moved on. Let him think I’m happy and secure with a new man.
Ethan, with his ripped jeans and fitted, plain gray shirt, and half-sleeves of swirling ink looks the part.
He’s several inches taller than me and has a broad, athletic build.
With curly brown hair and laughing green eyes, he plays the part well.
“You know each other well?” Mav asks, gesturing between us with his tumbler.
“Well enough,” I reply, snaking my arm around Ethan’s waist. I look up at him. “Right, babe?”
Ethan rolls his lips together to keep from laughing. “Of course.” He gives Mav a sheepish look. “Things are still pretty new, but every moment I spend with Allegra is a beautiful surprise.”
I snort lightly as Ethan’s eyes dance with mirth.
Tapping his hip, I tip my head toward the bar. “Better get you a drink.”
“Nice meeting you, man,” Ethan says to Mav.
Mav’s eyes dart between Ethan and me. “Same. Say something before you bounce, A.”
“Of course,” I agree breezily, leading my fake man to the bar.
“What the hell, Allegra?” Ethan mutters when we’re out of earshot. “Are you seriously trying to make Maverick Tate jealous?”
I order him a whiskey.
“Not at all,” I whisper back. “Things are just…complicated at the moment.” I turn pleading eyes at him. “Will you give me a ride home tonight?”
“Of course,” he sighs. “Are you okay? I haven’t seen you since last year. Last I heard, you took a leave of absence.”
“Well, I’m back now.” I polish off my whiskey and signal to the bartender that I’ll take another.
“And blonde.”
“That too.” I grin at Ethan.
He snorts and shakes his head. “Whatever. I’ve got to catch up with some friends, but signal if you need me. I’ll be around and I won’t take off without you.”
“Thank you, Ethan.”
He nods.
The bartender places down our tumblers and we clink them together before drinking.
“You gonna be okay?” Ethan asks. His concern wraps around me like a hug, and I nod, grateful for his presence. For the friendship he’s showing me.
“Yes. Go mingle.” I give him a playful shove.
“Okay. Signal.” He flutters his fingers underneath his chin like we have a secret code, and I laugh.
“I will,” I promise, returning the signal.
Ethan winks.
I watch him move through the crowd, meet up with a group of guys I don’t know.
Sighing, I turn back toward my tumbler and gasp. I clutch my heart and glare at Derek.
“What do you want?” I bite out.
“You’re still easy to sneak up on,” he remarks, his face a cool mask of indifference.
His demeanor may be cool, but his whiskey eyes are molten, blazing hot and angry, with a possessive edge that sends a thrill up my spine.
I shrug and feign disinterest as I take a sip of my drink. I smack my lips together and check him out, not bothering to hide my perusal.
Damn Derek for looking so delectable. Europe was too good to him.
He put on muscle in the months since I last saw him. His biceps are bigger, his shoulders broader. His hair is longer, and I long to run my fingers through it. I yearn to reach for him but force my fingers to curl into my palm instead.
His jaw is tight, and I know he’s angry, his energy radiating the type of danger that pulls me closer.
My body awakens under his hard gaze and heat rolls through my veins.
Even though I’m mentally rioting, my body craves Derek’s touch. His approval. It’s sick and I turn away, closing my eyes as I take a hearty swig of whiskey.
“I’m sorry about Levi,” he offers, his voice raspy.
I shrug.
“Why’d you come, Allegra?” he asks, dipping his head to catch my eyes.
Part of me hates that he doesn’t call me Stellina; part of me hates that he addresses me at all.
“This is my city, Reign,” I remind him, using his famous moniker to create distance between us. To remind myself that I will not fall for his heartbreaking eyes and soulful rasp again. “Why are you here?”
He flips his chin. “This is my event.”
Oh. I glance around the space, tastefully decorated and thoughtfully curated. He owns a whiskey label? “Congratulations,” I mutter, lifting my tumbler in his direction before taking another drink. I wish I hated the taste of River Wells, but like all things Derek, it’s delicious.
Derek’s hand darts out and he pulls the glass from my fingers, placing it on the bar forcefully. Whiskey splashes over the rim and dots the bar in teardrops.
“Who’s the guy?” Derek demands.
I chew the corner of my mouth to stop my grin. He saw my exchange with Ethan, and he doesn’t like it.
Too fucking bad.
I tilt my head and give him a mocking look. “Why? There are no house rules here,” I say, mentioning his dumb no-boy rule when I lived at the brownstone.
As if I was going to hook up with a random when I was so hung up on him.
“Who is he, Allegra?”
I laugh. “None of your business, Derek.”
He narrows his eyes. Lifting his hand, he tugs on a strand of my hair. “You’ve changed.”
I smile, a real one this time. He’s right. I’ve wised up and hardened my heart. “That’s funny, because you’re exactly the same.”