Jealousy is a twisted motivator—the evil twin of a beautiful emotion. Using that tactic is an ugly move on my part, but it’s not like I plan on making out with someone. Smiling at a guy and denying Atlas the same courtesy should be enough to piss him off and make him do what he never does—stake a claim on a girl.
You’ve got a trap for me, honey? Wait and see what I have in store for you.
I go through my day perpetually smiling on the inside, eager for Friday night to come sooner.
I’ll finally be able to walk through the front door of his house instead of monkey-climbing the downspout for the only window the cameras don’t cover. And maybe if I get him and his friends to kind of trust me, that would be my default entry from now on. Plus, the party is a perfect opportunity for me to snoop around the rest of Atlas’splace if I’m left unattended for a while. I’ve only ever gone through his room. Never his friends’. They were out of town exactly two times this summer, and I followed them to Mason Holt’s mansion, but I couldn’t even get through the fence. That monster has tighter security than the president.
I might not know exactly what I’ll be looking for, but anything beats having to patiently wait for Atlas to take me to his father.
It’s Thursday, and given he shows up nowhere on campus throughout the day, I wonder if I’m on his mind when no more texts find their way to me. I guess he’s got a lot on his plate right now with the upcoming art exhibit. But is he hooked enough to want to see me before the party? I’m sure he loves the chase, but does he consider thepreyworth it?
I never lacked confidence before, but after seeing how Eli could both love me and not in the same breath, that fucked with my head more than I care to admit. Looks, I can show off, but that alone is never enough to keep a man’s attention for long. Sometimes, it feels like all I have to offer is rotten to the core, yet Atlas’s interest seems to pique whenever I let mycharmingpersonality shine through, proving that it’s not a good girl he finds intriguing. But if I pull off my plan at the party, I’ll know for surefucked-upis exactly to his taste.
When the evening comes, I pull my chair, placing it under the door handle. I’m not okay with being tied down again, especially after the night I gave him.
I’m ready to pass out when my phone pings, making a jolt of excitement run through me. At least, he cares enough to text.
It’s a meme he sends me of a cat in front of an empty bowl, with a hungry and desperate expression. Then a question mark comes as a follow-up text.
Starving pussy?That fucker! He thinks he’s so funny.
I’m quick to find the perfect image in response. A cat licking itself with a caption beneath it—Anything you can do, I can do better.
Atlas
Liar. If you could, you wouldn’t be starved for it.
He caught me there. But all I care about is the fact I’m on his mind.
When he doesn’t text again, I leave my phone on the nightstand, pushing sleep aside, only to reevaluate the path I’m on. I can still change course, attempt a version of a normal life—pack my bags and leave, or even stay here, stop playing games with Atlas, and focus on studying for some form of a future ahead. I can,but I won’t.
I close my eyes and release a heavy sigh into the silent room, the only sound willing to keep me company while I slip toward another dreamless slumber. Yet the moment the darkness settles, my brother’s face permeates it, pulling me awake, as morning light creeps on the walls. For a moment, Milo lingers even after my eyes are wide open, and his words echo in my head.
“I would’ve already killed them all for you, Maeve.”
The disappointment in his tone tears my heart to shreds.
I’m sorry, brother! I’m doing the best I can.
My bed serves as my fortress for the next half an hour while I struggle to get a grip on myself.
I need to get to Mason. He and his right hand are going down!
My day passes in classes and looking around for the sole reason I’m attending this university, but unfortunately, he’s nowhere to be found.
Hiding myself from Raven while on campus is becoming harder by the day, but I need to keep her in the dark for now. I tell myself it’s to protect her, but it’s not just that. I don’t know how to admit certain truths. I hope she falls for Link, so telling her my brother, who was the love of her life, is dead won’t completely devastate her. That’s part of the reason I’m rooting for the nerd.
When the night comes, I’m more than ready for the psychological warfare to unfold more of its potential.
Hair in loose waves, oxblood nails, and makeup done to perfection, highlighting what nature has given me. Add a short black leather skirt and a white off-the-shoulder sweater, and I’ll own that psycho’s attention for the whole night. Hopefully, nothing will go awry, but I still put my Chucks on, in case I have to make a run for it. And of course, a taser and a knife are permanent residents of my bag.
All dolled up, I decide to kill some time with work. I have no intention of either arriving early or on time. I’m going to let him sweat it, wondering if I will show up at all.
Barely half an hour passes before I receive the first kind reminder to attend the party.
Atlas
You better call that Uber now or I’m coming for you.
