AllFreeNovel
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“Are you fucking crazy?” I tug at her snow pants, trying to pull her back down. “Do you see how low those branches are?”
Maddie drops back down in the seat, and at the same time, my eyes catch Crew’s in the rearview mirror. His eyes crinkle at the corners with his sly smirk. Warmth swarms in my belly while I push away the guilt brewing behind it.
You can’t have him, Scarlett. He’s already spoken for.
Fuck it. I make a beeline for the keg, pushing my way to the front of the line, while getting cussed at and shamed for cutting. Bending down, I grab the bag of red plastic cups off the ground while stray ones are scattered all over.
“Listen, noob. You can wait in line just like everyone else.”
“Yeah. What he said.”
“Did you hear me, bitch? Get in the back of the fucking line.”
Ignoring them, I focus solely on filling my cup. I need to drink away the irrational thoughts taking over. It might be temporary, but at least the open wounds will close for a little while.
I go to grab the hose connected to the keg when the guy before me drops it, but someone else snatches it up. His dark eyes bore into mine. “I said, get in the back of the line, you entitled cunt.”
“Aww,” I clasp my chest, still holding my empty cup, “are your words supposed to make me obey?” My eyes roll and I try to grab the hose from him. Before I can, I’m being doused in keg beer.It trickles down my face, sliding into my shirt and soaking my clothes.
Everyone around me starts laughing, but all I see is red. "You asshole.” I charge at him, bumping my knee really hard into the keg. Jumping up, I wrap my legs around him, trying to get the hose from his hands, but he continues to spray it in my face, soaking every inch of my upper body.
My neck twists and turns to dodge the sprays while my ankles lock behind his back so tight a lion couldn’t break my hold.
“You fucking whore.”
“Oh, now I’m a whore, too?” I open my mouth wide, letting some of the beer spray into my mouth. “Keep it coming. I am pretty thirsty.”
The next thing I know, I’m being pried off him. It’s not by a lion, though. It’s worse.
Neo’s arms wrap around my waist and I’m lifted away. The stream of beer immediately stops, and the guy spraying me now wears a look of panic.
“She cut the line,” the guy says softly, an ample shift from his roaring insults seconds ago.
Neo sets me down, and I catch my feet.
“In the tunnels,” Neo remarks to the guy with a stern finger pointed toward the trail.
Everyone surrounding the keg is quiet. The guy's chest rises and falls breathlessly as he speaks, “Just because she’s new doesn’t mean—”
“Now!” Neo shouts. The rumble in his voice vibrates against my back and I’m hesitant to make a move out of here.
“I can explain…” the guy begins, but is immediately cut off by Neo.
“You’ve been demoted. We’ll discuss your punishment at The Gathering.”
I tuck my chin to my chest, unable to even look at the guy. Sure, he’s an asshole, and I’d love nothing more than to shove the keg tap down his throat, but does he really deserve to be demoted? If what Riley says is true, he’s in for a year of hell. We could’ve eventually handled this situation without Lawless interference. I’d probably punch him a few times and he’d continue down his list of vile female insults. In the end, I’d leave with a cup of beer and he’d gracefully bow out with a bloody lip.
“Come with me,” Neo says sternly, grabbing my arm and pulling me away as if he has any right to do so.
“Excuse me?” I jerk my arm, trying to free it from his clutches to no avail. “No hey, hi, hello?”
“I don’t have time for small talk, especially not with you.”
“Gee, thanks.” Sarcasm drips from my words. “Nice to see you, too.”
“It’s never nice to see you, Scarlett. In fact, it’s downright torturous to be in your presence.”
“Torturous, huh?” I tease, using humor as my scapegoat. “Is that because my hot body tortures your mind?”
