Page 97 of The Has-Been

Just as I did to her.

And she was right: Payback really is a bitch…and her name is Aubrey Vaughn.

CHAPTER 21

TELL ME TOMORROW

LIAM

“Yup, June was right, her dad fucking hates me,” Brennan says between deep drinks of whiskey.

He’s watching June’s father move around the room.

At first, I thought it was just in Brennan’s head, but Gregory does keep glaring over here, his broad smile used to greet guests fading the moment his eyes find his daughter’s date for the evening.

Brennan turns to the bartender, who tops off his glass. This is at least his fourth glass, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. I get that he has every right to be nervous, but I can’t help but think that his getting drunk isn’t going to help his situation at all.

I mean, why does it matter if her dad doesn’t like him, anyway—hell, half the time, I’m not convinced Brennan is even that serious about June.

“Fuck, I wish Reid hadn’t bailed,” Brennan murmurs from beside me. “This party is boring as shit.” He clears his throat, quickly adding, “No offense, dude.”

“None taken,” I add in a dry tone.

Brennan might be missing Reid. But I’m sure as hell not. He was supposed to be Reese’s escort for the night. Leave it to him to ghost her in the middle of the night without so much as an explanation.

Heartless prick.

But that sounds about right for him. Just when Reese was starting to get too close…He hits the panic button and runs.

The bartender goes to refill my glass, but halts when she sees it’s still full. It’s more of a decoration than anything else. I haven’t actually taken a sip of it. I know I could if I wanted; Jasmine and I have talked about that possibility. Drinking wasn’t the problem—chasing the feeling of numbness, the silence was.

And alcohol, enough of it, can silence the thoughts.

So I choose to avoid it in all forms.

There is only one vice I’ll allow now.

Aubrey.

Just one taste of her in that fucking hotel last night has my mind spinning. Since I dropped her off at her parents’ house so she could get ready for tonight, I’ve spent the whole day pacing around the cabin, trying to get a grip on myself.

But I can’t stop thinking about her. About how much I want her—not just physically, but in every way.

We still haven’t talked about the past. And I know I’m missing something. A final piece of the puzzle she’s refusing to give me.

Just as I’m about to try to talk to Brennan about it, something catches his attention behind me. I don’t need to turn around to know what has him hooked—the Vaughns have a way of doing that to a man.

Not wanting to miss her entrance, I turn and watch as Aubrey shrugs out of her fur coat, hands it to the server, murmuring her thanks.

Longing twists through me, my mouth dry as she glides across the room, her eyes locked on me, tracing me from head to toe.

I hate suits.

But I’d wear one every day if it meant she’d keep looking at me like this.

I grin as I take my turn studying her. She’s wearing makeup—something she only does on occasion. Her eyes are painted dark, deepening the brown to near-black. Her whole look is dark and sultry: the black dress, barely more than scraps, the almost see-through bodice.

Beside me, Brennan coughs, choking on his whiskey as Reese approaches us. But my attention is anywhere but on them.