Page 249 of Barinov

Then she looks back at me over her shoulder. She locks her steel-grays onto mine and blows me a kiss. I grip the edge of my seat so hard I hear it creak.

“Jesus fucking Christ, Bella,” I mutter, my jaw locked tight.

Cade chuckles next to me. “You good, baby?”

“Is it bad that I’m fucking turned on?”

Cade snorts, falling forward out of his chair as the song finally comes to an end.

Chapter 64

ZEKE

Wexley University

37 days since we’ve been back.

The craziness of Bella and the girls’ lap dance on Lex’s dad has finally calmed down.

Sort of.

August is still talking shit like nobody’s business when Bella walks out from behind one of the garment racks in a light blue sheer dress. Josh follows her out, shirtless with black pants that have a matching blue stripe up the side of the leg. Both of them are barefoot as he leads her up to that square stage Lex and the guys dragged out earlier.

Knox starts muttering something over the speakers but I don’t hear a damn word because movement catches my eye. Luca’s emerald eyes find mine when he steps forward from the corner of the gym, a smug grin curving his face as he leans against the frame of the stage.

My lungs lock tight. Heat floods every inch of my body as my pulse slams against my ribs. I squeeze my eyes shut.

He’s dead.

Breathe.

He’s dead.

I breathe in three slow, deep breaths and force my eyes open.

He’s gone.

A heavy sigh flows from my lips and I sink back into my chair as Knox finishes. “…and she wanted to do this for her brother.”

Marisol’s hand squeezes my leg. “Oooh, babe. That’s so sweet of B!”

I blink at her. “What?”

“Bella dedicated this dance to you,” she says, her smile faltering. “Are you alright?”

Shit. I missed something again.

“Yeah,” I lie, quickly interlocking our fingers as the lights dim to a cool, pale-blue. “I’m good, babe.”

The opening notes of “Unsteady” by X Ambassadors drift through the gym, soft enough that I almost miss them.

Bella never takes her eyes off of me as Josh reaches for her hand. She lets him take it. The two of them move like they’re breathing instead of dancing. Every step is fluid and effortless as they drift across the stage.

A single drop falls from somewhere above them.

Then another.

And another.