Page 103 of Lucky 14

He’s ignoring me again. Right after, he just looked into my eyes like all he wanted to do was crawl into my skin. Like he could see all my secrets and loved them all. My chest hurts. I wanted that look to be real. I needed that look to be real. It started welding something together that I didn’t realize was broken.

I stare at the doorway where they disappeared, shock rolling through me. Shock, followed quickly by numbness.

I swore this wouldn’t happen again. That I wouldn’t chase after someone like this. It’s just…Kyan acted so different…like he actually cared.

Of course he did. That’s how they all act.

Shame heats my cheeks until I hear the sound of retching. Turning, I see Holli puking onto the floor. Numbly, I walk over to her to hold her hair back.

She doesn’t push me away, just grabs onto my knee for support, fingers digging into me. We stand there, holding onto each other like the building is rocking around us, until Holli speaks quietly.

“I…need to sit down.”

She’s pale, and her eyes look a bit…sunken. Immediately, all I want to do is take that look away from her. To keep her safe from…everything. I guide her to the wall, where both of us slump down against it. We’re silent, listening to the rain fall outside. There are scattered shouts from inside the villa, but what can I do about it? I don’t have a gun. There’s nowhere to run, not even the woods are safe.

Clearly, Kyan is not the help I thought he’d be.

That thought breaks my heart, and I squeeze my hands together into fists. When that doesn’t hurt enough, grab my knees and dig my nails in. My old habits are screaming at me that if I were good enough, this wouldn’t have happened. But reality, the harsh, cold reality that I’ve started to learn on this island is settling in, hammered home by that disgusted look Kyan gave me. And that’s that sometimes other people’s behavior has nothing to do with you. Sometimes, other people are just pieces of shit.

I stare at the ugly hotel carpet. It sure feels like it has everything to do with me. I wasn’t enough to convince Kyan to stay.

There’s movement to my side. It’s Holli. Her hand creeps up to where mine are clenched on my knees, gently prying at my fingers. I don’t realize how hard I’m squeezing until I relax them.

She lets go. Neither of us speaks. We don’t have to. It’s like there’s an understanding that this is fucked, the world is fucked, and we have very few options. Why talk about it?

We stay that way for a while until footsteps come down the hall. And then, the worst thing happens—Kyan walks in.

“Oakley! You’re still here!” He rushes toward us. He’s covered in red splatter, sans shirt still.

I stand stiff, glaring at him. I hate the flare of hope I feel when I see him, and I stuff it back down.

Kyan takes a second to register my look, but slows.

“Back off.” Holli steps up beside me, and we stand there together.

Kyan’s brows knit, and he stops. “What’s wrong?” He looks between us.

What’s wrong? The earnest look he’s giving makes me want to forget the resolve I made earlier. Makes me want to melt back into his hold and ask him why he changed.

Holli’s hand brushes mine, and I straighten. “Nothing.”

“Okayyy.” He drags the word out, looking between us again. “You gonna introduce me to your girl?”

This is so odd. He met her in the hotel room and acted like he knew who she was. But the way he says ‘my girl’ makes it sound like we’re an item. And for some wild reason, that makes my chest feel warm.

“This is Holli,” I say mockingly. He wants me to play along, then fine, I’ll play along until he gets us off this goddamn island.

I expect Holli to sneer at Kyan. For them to throw threats back and forth like they did before.

Instead, Holli holds her hand out as if she’s going to…shake his hand?

“Fourteen.” Her voice is…not sweet, but it’s a lot nicer than it has been. I turn to look at her in shock, but then Kyan grabs her hand and brings it up to his mouth, kissing it.

Kissing it? A hot rush of something pours down my spine, and before I realize what I’m doing, I’m pulling Holli’s hand away from him.

Kyan throws a tiny smirk at me, eyebrow cocked.

“Don’t…you don’t…” I can’t finish the thought. What the hell is going on? First, he won’t acknowledge me, and now he’s flirting with…my girl?