43. Eden
EDEN
“Ididn’t think you’d show up.”
I didn’t even have to turn around to know who was talking to me. Austin Bennett’s voice had been imprinted in my mind, though it was against my will.
For whatever reason, that guy just loved showing up everywhere he wasn’t needed.
Sure, it was his party so I expected to see him here eventually. But he didn’t have to talk to me. Bennett hated almost everything. Actually, he hated everything about me except the fact that he could always count on getting with my exes.
I still wasn’t sure why he preferred my exes over finding his own partners, but whatever. Some people were born to come second, I suppose.
I quickly plastered on a fake smile before turning to face Austin. His smirk made my blood boil, but I refused to let him see it affected me.
“Well, I do like crashing a boring party with my presence to make it a bit more enjoyable. You’re welcome, by the way,” I replied, brushing past him to grab a non-alcoholic drink from the table.
Bennett followed me like a shadow, hovering over me as if he was inspecting each of my moves just to copy them someday. But tonight, nothing he could’ve done was going to ruin my mood.
Well, alright, there was one thing he could’ve done to ruin my mood…like talk to Alana. But I doubted he would make any moves if I watched her like a hawk all night long. Louisa stole her from me twenty minutes ago, but that didn’t mean I didn’t exactly know what they were doing.
When I first met Austin, I thought he saw me as some kind of idol.
He told me he did. I was a grade above him and a bit too naive, so I didn’t even question it.
But as time passed, his true colors showed.
The more time he spent around me and my friends, the more I’d notice him flirting with my girlfriend.
I didn’t want to make a big fuss about it, even told myself I was imagining things…
until I caught them making out at one of my games.
He hadn’t stopped trying to get with my partners ever since.
As I sipped my drink, I felt Bennett’s gaze burning holes into the side of my head. It was annoying, to say the least.
I turned to him, narrowing my eyes in an attempt to convey my annoyance.
“Can I help you with something, Bennett?” I asked, my tone strained.
Bennett just chuckled and shook his head as if watching me was his idea of entertainment. “Nah, just enjoying the view.” He leaned casually against the wall.
My eyebrows drew together involuntarily. He must’ve known what that sounded like.
“I know I’m good-looking, but that doesn’t give you the right to stare at me like a creep,” I shot back, my patience wearing thin.
He straightened up, his smirk widening. “Oh, trust me, Eden. You’re far from the view I’m enjoying right now.” His gaze shifted to something or someone behind me.
I turned around to see what he was looking at, just to find Alana standing in the middle of the living room, her smile lighting up her entire face as she chatted with Louisa.
For a moment, I forgot about Bennett and his very unpleasant presence as I watched her laugh at something Sharma’s girlfriend said. My heart squeezed in my chest; God, she was that beautiful.
Unfortunately, the annoying piece of ass was still present, and decided to cut through my thoughts like a knife. “I’m surprised you even want to be associated with someone like her.”
I clenched my jaw, feeling rage bubbling up inside me. I know I wanted to stay calm and not let him see how much I hated him, but… he was going after Alana now. How dare he speak about Alana like that? As if he had any right to even form a hint of an opinion about her.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” My voice dropping dangerously low.
He snorted. “Just look at her.”
I was constantly looking at her. Sometimes longer than I probably should’ve been looking. Not once had I seen a thing I didn’t like about Alana. Not a single hair was ever out of place—if I had to judge anyway. She would’ve begged to differ.
Taking a deep breath, I attempted to keep my composure. “And what exactly makes you believe I could find anything wrong with Alana by looking at her?”
Bennett’s smirk deepened, and I hated the smug satisfaction radiating off him.
“I’m just saying, she’s not exactly the type you usually go for, is she?
” He sounded a bit too casual for my liking.
It was almost as if he pretended he wasn’t standing there insulting the best thing that ever happened to me.
I forced myself to swallow the sharp words clawing their way out of my throat.
But the longer I stood there, the harder it was to keep the leash on my temper.
Not because he was wrong about Alana not having been like anyone I’d usually gone for, but because he had the audacity to imply she wasn’t perfect.
If anything, Alana was too good for me. Too good for this stupid party. Too good for anyone on this fucking property.
Sure, she didn’t see it that way. I was very much aware of the self-doubt she carried around like an overstuffed bag, always threatening to burst open.
She didn’t realize that when she walked into a room, people couldn’t help but notice her.
Alana was stunning in a way that made everyone else seem dull in comparison, a walking masterpiece she didn’t even know she was painting.
And Bennett? Bennett was blind. Or stupid. Or both.
Definitely both.
“Alana,” I started, my voice low and deliberate, “is the most incredible person I’ve ever met.” The words came out sharp, but I didn’t care. I wanted him to feel it. “She’s smart. Funny. Beautiful.” I paused, letting my gaze drift back to her.
She was still laughing, her shoulders shaking gently, and it hit me again how damn lucky I was to even know her.
“She’s also way out of your league, Bennett,” I added. “So maybe don’t embarrass yourself by pretending you’d have a chance even if I wasn’t in the picture.” We both knew he was only waiting to get a chance to talk to her. Well, get with her.
It was the plan, yes… but he was such an ass. I couldn’t allow Alana to get with him no matter how badly she wanted to. I knew better.
I knew how badly she’d get hurt.
I knew Bennett was only out for sex, thinking he’d hurt me with it.
For the first time, I was afraid he would’ve succeeded. He could’ve easily hurt me by stealing Alana from me.
Bennett blinked, his smirk faltering for a split second before he recovered. “Chill, dude. Just making an observation.”
“Next time, observe silently.” My patience was officially at zero.
I didn’t wait for his response. I was already moving, crossing the room in long strides until I was standing next to Alana.
She turned to me, her smile softening into something warmer, more personal, and I felt it in my chest like a punch.
“Hey,” she said, her voice light and teasing. “Are you okay? You look upset.”
“I’m better now,” I replied, sliding an arm around her waist without even thinking about it. She didn’t stiffen anymore when I touched her, nor did she pull away. In fact, she always leaned in more like she wanted my touch. Like she needed it almost as much as I needed hers.
It was funny, really. The moment our bodies met, every ounce of anger inside me evaporated as if it had never even been there.
Guess Alana’s presence genuinely grounded me and made me feel steady in ways nothing else could. And when I looked at her, at the way the soft light caught the strands of her hair and the curve of her lips, I realized I didn’t care who thought she wasn’t my type or that I shouldn’t be with her.
Because Alana wasn’t just my type. She was the only type that mattered.