Chapter Sixteen
Courtney
Landon left the room and it’s a good thing he did because I was two seconds away from grabbing that crystal lamp and throwing it at his stupid fucking head. God, what have I gotten myself into?
A knock comes from the door before it’s pushed open, and I know it’s Luna without even having to look.
“What?” I ask numbly. I’m curled up on the couch across from the bed and staring out the window.
“Just came to check on you. How are you doing?”
My first instinct is to snap at her like I did Landon, but Luna has been nothing but amazing since the moment I got here. She doesn’t deserve my pain, so I shove it down and turn to look at her.
The expression on her face tells me I look just as bad as I feel. Maybe even worse. God, that’s humiliating.
“Oh, babe,” she whispers before crossing the room and sitting beside me.
“I feel so fucking stupid,” I say, shaking my head as she pulls me into her arms.
I rest my head against her shoulder as she smooths a hand over my hair.
“Don’t. He’s the idiot, and he made himself look like a straight jackass. You calling him out and letting him explain was kind of savage, I won’t lie.”
A bitter laugh escapes me. “I knew he didn’t have a good excuse. I hate being made to look like a fool.”
Luna brushes a tear off my cheek. “Trust me, babe. The egg is on his head, or face, whatever. Point is, you did nothing wrong. You put yourself out there, you believed the words he told you and he fucked you over. He’s the villain here.”
“Yeah, and now I’m partnered with Landon of all people.” I let out a hollow laugh.
Luna pulls away a bit to look me in the eyes as her brows pull together. “Yeah, I’m not gonna lie. I was shook when you said his name. I mean, I get it, and Kenzie told me she wants to thank you for not going after Calvin when you got screwed like that. But, like… Landon?”
“It wasn’t like I had much of a choice. If we refused to lock in, what were they going to do? Send us both home?”
She nods like she hadn’t thought of that and twists her mouth up. “Good point. Are things good with you guys now?”
I laugh. “He’s a prick, what do you think?”
Luna shrugs, staying quiet for a moment before speaking again. “Maybe you should give him a chance. I don’t know the guy very well, but after you left, Noah started to light him up, and Landon threw it right back at him. I took it like he was almost defending you.”
“What?” I ask with a disbelieving look.
She shrugs again and continues running her fingers through my hair in a comforting way.
After a bit, Luna convinces me to come downstairs and get a late dinner.
Begrudgingly, I agree on the condition that if Noah comes anywhere near me, she junk-punches him.
She enthusiastically agrees and will even throw in a cunt punch if Savannah gets too close to me.
I think it’s safe to say she’s securing the title of best friend very quickly.
When we head downstairs, I find Shane already using the kitchen inside.
“Hey, pretty ladies. Dinner will be done in about ten.”
“You’re cooking?” I ask.
He winks. “I’m a man of many talents.”
“He keeps saying that, but I’m just waiting for him to drop his pants and prove it,” Luna fake-whispers to me.
“Patience is a beautiful thing, sweet girl,” he says, smirking.
“I’ve never been very good at being patient. Maybe I’m not all that sweet,” she challenges with a waggle of her eyebrows that has Shane all but salivating.
Holy shit. I don’t know how I didn’t pick up on the sexual chemistry between these two before. I’m ready to tell them screw the dinner, just fuck on the counter already. It does smell really good, though, so I’ll keep my thoughts to myself for now.
“I’m gonna go rustle up some wine or something for us to catch a little buzz. We’ll be back,” Luna says, leading me out the main doors for the backyard.
I understand not wanting to have liquor stocked at the house. High emotions, sixteen people living under one roof and alcohol? That’s not good TV; that’s an unsanctioned WWE fight waiting to happen.
When Luna and I step outside, I see several of the newly paired-up couples really getting to know each other. By that, I mean Bella is dry-humping Connor like her life depends on it.
Angel and Mason are loved up in the swinging egg-shaped chair, and Cora and Andrew are intimately chatting and smiling on one of the daybeds. Love definitely feels in the air tonight, and it turns my stomach that I thought I was going to end my evening like them.
Luna and I head for the outdoor bar and are rifling through the cabinets when a pair of sleek black heels appear at my side. I look up to see Kenzie standing there with a half-smile.
“Hey, girl. I just wanted to thank you. I mean, you had first dibs, you could have gone for Calvin, but it felt like you didn’t because of me, and, well, you didn’t have to do that.”
For the first time in the last hour, I can smile, and I don’t even have to fake it. “Of course. I see what’s going on between you two. It wasn’t even an option.”
“If only others could be so considerate,” she mutters as her gaze drifts over my shoulder.
I follow her line of sight to where Noah and Savannah are snuggled up on one of the outdoor couches, looking like long-lost lovers as he licks and sucks on her neck while she moans like a porn star.
Awesome. As if everything wasn’t bad enough, I’m going to have to get used to… all of that for the foreseeable future.
As if he can feel my eyes on him, Noah breaks away from Savannah, his smile falling instantly.
I roll my eyes and scoff as I walk away towards the house.
I fucking hate how emotional this whole thing has made me.
I’m not one to show weakness. I don’t cry over men, like what the fuck?
Have I forgotten the independent badass woman I am?
This one, though, for whatever reason is really getting to me.
Maybe it’s because for once, all of my instincts were off.
I let my guard down so fast, too fast, and went with my gut, and she fucked me nice and raw for all of America to see.
I hope when Lily inevitably watches that episode, she isn’t too embarrassed to have such a damn fool for a sister.
Though, knowing her, she’s probably going to throw something at the TV as soon as Noah’s face appears front and center.
I won’t be surprised if she develops a slew of nasty nicknames in his honor. Honestly, I can’t wait to hear them.
Fuck, I miss her.