Chapter Two
Maisie
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“I can’t believe you convinced her to come,” Lyric says, her gaze falling to Lana, who’s standing in the doorway of the kitchen, laughing at something Charlotte said.
“I can’t believe Kai let you leave the house without him,” I say in lieu of commenting on my roommate and our less-than-ideal situation.
I still haven’t been able to fully wrap my head around the fact that she was Macallan’s girlfriend.
That when we hooked up, they were technically together.
I feel sick over the whole thing. Sick that I didn’t heed the warning signs.
Sick that I unintentionally hurt her in a way I would never want to hurt another person.
What are the odds that out of every junior on campus who didn’t have predetermined roommate selections this semester, I somehow ended up with the one person on campus who hates me, and for good reason.
It’s irrelevant that I didn’t know Mac was involved with anyone, let alone her.
At the end of the day, I still wear the face of his betrayal.
Though I do feel like things are better now that we’ve talked it out, a part of me still can’t help but feel like she’s never going to be able to look at me without seeing him and I hate that so much I can’t even begin to put it into words how it makes me feel.
“He probably wouldn’t have if it weren’t for the fact that my brother is here.” She gestures to the tall, blond stud who slides up next to Char, leaning down to kiss the side of her neck.
I audibly sigh.
“Is it bad that I wish that were me?” I ask, watching the two of them together.
“What do you mean?” Lyric raises an eyebrow in question, her hazel eyes bouncing between me and the couple who can’t seem to keep their hands to themselves for more than thirty seconds.
“I mean, look at him.” I gesture to River, who is gorgeous on a bad day. On a good day... Don’t even get me started.
“River?” She chokes, her eyes widening.
“No, I’m not into your brother.” I smile, reassuring her. “But he is fine.” I draw my bottom lip through my teeth in appreciation. “And maybe I’m a little jealous that you and Char are so happy. I mean, I’m happy for you.” I quickly move to explain.
“I get it.” She rests her shoulder against mine. “It’s only a matter of time, you know. Before someone comes along and scoops you up. And when that day comes and that man realizes how incredible you are, he’s never going to let you go.”
“I don’t even know if I want to be in a relationship.” I blow out a breath. “I mean, I guess the meaningless hookups are starting to lose their luster, but then I think about settling down and I don’t know... It makes me feel restless just thinking about it.”
“Which is why you need a man who loves your adventurous spirit and embraces it rather than trying to tie you down.”
“I don’t think such a man exists.” I give her a small smile.
“I didn’t think men like Kai existed either and now look at me.” She holds up her hand, flashing the beautiful diamond that sits proudly on her finger.
“Kai is rare. I knew that pretty early on.”
“Did you ever...” She swallows hard, contemplating her words. “Have a crush on him?”
“On Kai?” Laughter vibrates my shoulders.
“No.” I shake my head. “Definitely not. I mean, I appreciated his good looks—I’m not blind—but because I grew up with him around and always looked at him like a brother, it was impossible to ever see him as anything else.
Don’t get me wrong, I see the appeal—again, not blind—but my feelings for him have always been familial. ”
“That’s what I always assumed... I guess I just needed to hear you say it.”
“It’s been two years,” I remind her.
“I know.”
“Where is Kai, anyway?” I clear my throat.
“He’ll be here in a little bit. He had a few things he needed to finish for a class.”
“It’s our first week back. He has schoolwork already?”
“He has more assignments this week than I think we get in a whole month.”
“Who knew the Civil Engineering Master’s program was so intense.”
“I know. And he’s already so busy with his internship. I worry he’s going to run himself into the ground.”
“Then I guess it’ll be up to you to make sure he doesn’t.”
“Yeah.” She gives me a soft smile, not saying more as Char bounces up to us, looking like an absolute bombshell in the deep blue minidress she’s wearing, her red hair curled and left to hang freely down her back. It’s no wonder River couldn’t resist her. I doubt any man could.
“Why are you two standing around like little sad saps?” She takes my hand and then Lyric’s, pulling us deeper into the house, toward the pulsing music.
“What about your new friend?” I ask, looking back toward the kitchen.
“She’s getting a drink and then she’ll be joining us.”
“At least she likes you,” I grumble.
“She doesn’t not like you.” She chuckles. “Just give her time.”
“I’m not nearly drunk enough for this,” I grumble when we enter a large living room packed wall to wall with people dancing and talking, even though it’s damn near impossible to hear yourself think, let alone be able to carry on an actual conversation.
“Riv.” Lyric turns toward her brother, who follows behind Char like her own personal bodyguard. “Would you be so kind as to grab us some drinks?” She gives him a wide smile.
“I guess.” He leans down, speaking directly into Charlotte’s ear. I watch the way her eyes darken and her skin flushes, and I can take a guess on what he’s probably saying based on her reaction.
Moments later, he disappears, heading back in the direction from which we just came.
“You’re so fucked,” I tell Char, who still looks slightly flustered by whatever River said to her.
“What?” She smiles, the color not fading from her cheeks.
“You. Are. So. Fucked.” I repeat it more clearly, gesturing to where River just stood.
“Not fucked. Well, I will be later. But right now... I’m just...”
“In love.” Lyric finishes for her, a knowing look in her eyes.
“That.” Char smiles so widely it damn near splits her face. “Now come on. I want to dance.” She nudges us farther into the room.
It doesn’t take long for Lana to join us.
Even though I know she probably still hates my guts, she’s been a lot more friendly toward me since our talk.
Now, instead of complaining about everything I do, she simply tolerates it.
That doesn’t mean I have any delusions that she likes me.
But I’m hopeful I can win her over with my wit and charm—insert sarcasm.
When River returns with our drinks, sweat has already gathered at my nape from the too-warm room, even though we’ve only been dancing for less than a full song. I down the contents in minutes, allowing the warmth of the alcohol to soothe away my cares.
Excusing myself after a few minutes, I weave through the thick crowd of people in an effort to get to the bathroom.
Which, of course, has a line nearly a mile long.
Groaning, I join the line, leaning my shoulder against the wall, tensing when a familiar voice hits my ears, what feels like seconds later.
I spin to find none other than Macallan Stewart slide up next to me, his cocky smile and easy charm nowhere to be found as he openly scowls at me.
It does nothing to hide his beauty. I’m pretty sure nothing could.
Not his anger. Not my hatred for him. Even if my insides rage at the sight of him, my eyes are transfixed on his firm jaw covered with a dusting of dark hair.
I’ve never seen him with facial hair before, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make his already irresistible looks even more so.
I let my eyes dip for a brief moment, taking in the way his gray T-shirt strains against his broad shoulders and sharp muscle definition. Years spent in the weight room and football conditioning on full display.
I can envision it even now, two years later.
Every rigid dip of muscle. Every perfect inch of tanned skin.
The way his abs lead a rippling trail down to the deep V of his pelvis.
It’s like he was snatched straight off the pages of a romance novel and dropped here in the real world to remind all of us petty humans just how unattainable he is.
I’m so irritated by the thought that I have to resist the urge to jam my fist straight into the center of his throat.
His teal-colored eyes hold mine and it takes me way too long to realize he’s waiting for a reply. Only I was so taken by who was speaking that I completely forgot to listen to what he actually said.
“What?” I snap angrily, refusing to let my guard be lowered by how pathetically I’m swayed by his looks.
“I said, what are you doing here with Lana Crawford?”
“Oh, you mean your ex?” I cross my arms over my chest. “The girlfriend you conveniently forgot to mention when you had me bent over your buddy’s desk?”
A hint of a smirk tugs at his lips, like he’s suddenly envisioning the moment, and I scoff at the way he looks at me.
“She’s my new roommate, not that it’s any of your business.”
“Your roommate?” Something unreadable passes over his expression.
“Worried we might swap war stories?” I sneer.
“Lana Crawford was not, nor has she ever been, my girlfriend,” he finally says, looking at something over my head before his eyes meet mine once more. “She only wishes she were.”
“Convenient. Though given your track record, I tend to believe her word over yours.” I spin, prepared to abandon my place in line just to get away from this lying asshole.
When he grabs my arm, his fingers biting into the soft skin of my bicep, I hiss like a wild animal warning off her prey. My reaction to his touch does not deter him as he leans in closer.
I hold my breath.
“Lana Crawford is a psychopath. And she’s obsessed with me. Trust me when I say, you want to steer clear of that one.”
“You’re so self-absorbed. I know this is hard for you to believe, but the only person obsessed with you is you.” I rip my arm out of his grip.
“I seem to remember you being rather obsessed with me at one point.”