“No. There’s nothing between us,” he tells her, and my heart plummets to the pit of my stomach. Nope. Nothing at all. Swallowing hard, I push away from the wall and force my feet to move to the guest bedroom as my heart splinters, pieces of it falling onto the wooden floor.
It takes everything in me not to slam the bedroom door once I’m inside, but I make myself slow down, taking a deep breath and closing it with infinite care before I slump against it.
The front door closes, signaling that they’ve left, and I slide to the floor, pulling my legs to my chest and wrapping my arms around my knees before burying my face.
Deacon warned me this would happen. That I’d get hurt. And he was right. This fucking hurts. So goddamn much.
I should have listened to him when he told me to end it. It still would’ve hurt, but I’d at least have my pride. I wouldn’t be sitting here, pining for Dominique like a pathetic school girl while he goes on a date with another woman.
My heart races in my chest and the edge of panic sinks down my spine. I will not fall apart because of him. No way. He does not get to have that kind of power over me.
Wiping my eyes, I grab my phone and keys, waiting just long enough to assure myself that Dominique and Tamara are gone.
I use the short drive back to the Kappa Mu house to clear my head. I need a distraction. Something to do that will keep me from thinking about what the two of them are doing, but as soon as I step inside the house, I know this isn’t where I’ll find one.
“Hello?” I call out into the empty living room.
Silence greets me.
Looks like Quinn wasn’t the only one who landed a plus one spot.
I climb the stairs to the second floor before knocking on a few of the other girls' doors just to be sure. I never come up here. Aside from Quinn, I don’t talk to anyone else, not unless I have to. Every one of my knocks is greeted with silence. There are twelve of us living here. And tonight of all nights, I’m the only one alone.
Swallowing hard, I go back downstairs and head for my room. As soon as I step inside, my phone chimes with a message alert and I jump at the chance for a distraction.
Pulling it from my back pocket, I see Deacon’s name illuminated on the screen.
Deacon: Who TF is this chick?
There’s an attachment.Clicking on it, it opens to reveal a close-up image of Dominique and his date. Lovely. Pressing my lips together, I stare at them together. Tamara looks good on his arm. Like she belongs there.
I fucking hate it.
It takes my shaking hands three attempts to type out a response. One that won’t make me sound like a jilted lover.
Me: Her name is Tamara Vinzent. She’s pretty.
Understatement of the year.
Deacon: I don’t give a shit what her name is. Why is she on Price’s arm instead of you?
Tears prickthe backs of my eyes, but I blink them away. I will not cry over a boy. Mom taught me better than that.
Me: *shrug emoji* You’d have to ask him.
Deacon: He didn’t show up because you turned him down?
Me: Nope.
That I wasn’t invited is implied.
My phone jumps in my hand, the vibration of an incoming call startling me before I see Deacon’s name flash across the screen.
I answer it on the first ring and before I can even say hello he bites out a harsh, “Where are you?”
“Kappu Mu. Why?”
“Do you have a dress?”
