“Fuck, babe.” He runs his hand through his hair. I focus on the bruise on his jaw. Part of me wishes I could have seen his face when Damon hit him. “I was so angry and worked up. I didn’t want to accidentally hurt you. We needed to cool off.”
Then drop me off at my house, you wanker.
“I’ve been going through some shit at home, so I needed release. I didn’t want to push you, so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to be with other girls until you were ready. I only want you, though.” Chase runs his hand through his hair again. Then drops it to his lap. “I’ve fucked up so bad, but I don’t want to lose you, EvanAnn. I really do think we can go the distance.”
He starts again on his vision of our future. But I know what the reality would be like. I’ll be working on location, and he’ll be fucking anything that moves. We’ll have our children and then the children of his other women. But it won’t matter because we’ll be a power couple.
I sit back with my arms crossed as he goes on about his fantasy future and really look at the guy who was my first boyfriend. On the outside and on paper, he’s a catch. He’s popular, attractive, knows how to be sensitive—or at least knows how to act sensitive. And he noticed me.
I’d like to say that wasn’t the biggest draw, but I’ve gone through almost three years of school without making a close friend or finding a boyfriend. It was lonely, and Mom was just beginning to see another new guy.
I didn’t want to get left alone again. And he was interested in me.
Maybe I thought it would be over before the end of the school year. But then we made it through the summer, and I thought everything would be golden this year. Instead, I find out I’m not as attracted to him as I thought. Or whatever I felt for him wasn’t physical.
Suddenly three guys who are completely out of my league wanted me. Want me. It’s not even a competition between what they make me feel and what Chase made me feel. And even if I’m just a passing phase for them, it doesn’t matter because I’ll remember what they gave me all my life.
But Chase? Chase will just be the asshole I almost gave my virginity to who cheated on me.
“What happened to your jaw?” My tone is steady, like I’m asking about the weather.
He rubs his jaw and glances toward the house. “Damon Storm sucker punched me. I don’t know why he’s messing withus, babe. But I’ll figure it out. He was all over Olivia. I think she has a thing for me.”
I narrow my gaze, because Damon couldn’t possibly have a thing for me.
He holds his hands up. “Not that I’m interested in her. Or anyone else.”
How much longer do I need to listen to this shit? I’d rather be watching him get torn apart by wild dogs.
“I really don’t want to lose you, EvanAnn.” Chase drags in a breath and releases it. His gaze rakes over me. “I’ll do anything to get you back. Just consider it? Please. We’re so good together, babe.”
I lean forward and brush my hair over the shoulder that’s bare. “Look, Chase. You hurt me. I’m going to need time to get over that and see if I can really trust you again.”
“Anything, babe. You tell me what I can do, and I’ll make it happen.”
This part is up to me. I can give him my terms now or make him suffer until Monday, a holiday for most schools, but because we’re private, we don’t get the day off. Oh, I’m definitely going to make him suffer.
“I have to think about it.” Even though I’ve been mentally broken up with Chase for a while, I don’t want to have him back at all. But if I’m doing this for show, he’s really going to commit this time. Even if I’m never going to let him touch me again.
“Can we go somewhere?” he asks. His eyes drop to my bare thighs.
Does he think I’m an idiot? Fuck this guy. I narrow my eyes, and he holds his hands up.
“Like coffee or maybe a late dinner and talk about it.” He gives me this hopeful look. That’s the problem with actors. Is this real or is it an act?
I may never know. What I do know is the guys in there who want to fuck me aren’t playing a part. And what I get from them is so much more than Chase has given me.
“Not tonight.” I smooth my skirt down. “We can talk at lunch on Monday.”
“Monday? Babe, we could talk more tonight.” He seems disheartened as I stand. I wish I could say that didn’t make me happy to make him grovel.
“Monday. Don’t fuck anyone between now and then, and maybe I’ll be willing to hear you out.” I shrug like I’m not sure. When I walk away, it feels really fucking good. It would have felt even better to tell him about the Devil’s trio, but that’s not part of the plan. Yet.
Someone turned down all the lights in the house except for the strobe lights on the dance floor. I walk in and know where I want to go. But I need to hang out a while longer.
Mia dances with Liam. They’re pretty much all over each other, so I lean against the wall nearby. On the outside again. Besides, I’m not much of a dancer.
“Hey, you’re EvanAnn, right?” A guy who looks vaguely familiar sidles up beside me and smiles. “Wayne Anderson. We had history together last year.”
