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Shit.
I wanted to stay hidden—to keep my presence a secret until just the right time, when it would make the biggest impact. Maybe even get away with tormenting Carter in secret for a bit. But that plan is long gone now.
My eyes meet Jace's, and a smirk graces my face. Despite the shocked look on his face, he plays it cool and lets go of his girlfriend's hand. I turn and walk out the door, knowing the conversation we're about to have is not one that should be shouted in a crowded room. As I reach the end of the walkway, Jace steps outside.
"What are you doing here, Tye?" he questions.
Seriously? As if it's a surprise?
I huff out a laugh. "Isn't it obvious? My best friend is dead, and the only answer we were given is that it was an accident," I spit. "You didn't honestly think I was just going to accept that, did you?"
He sighs heavily and brings a hand to the back of his neck. "Tye, I didn't push her."
"I know you didn't. I saw the video. You were nowhere near her."
"Then what are you looking for?"
His genuine confusion is not something I expected, honestly. After watching the new angle that Carter and his friend miraculously found at the eleventh hour during Jace's murder trial, I could see that Jace was all the way across the roof from Davi. They called it a freak accident. They said she was drunk and she slipped. But I don't buy it. Someone is responsible. It just isn't the guy that was up there with her.
I square my shoulders and feel as the pent-up rage simmers beneath the surface of my skin.
"There's only one reason she was on the roof at all that night," I tell him. "And I'm going to make him pay."
In perfect timing, the door opens and Carter steps outside. When his gaze lands on me, he looks confused at first but as I chuckle softly, his eyes widen. Jace swallows so harshly that I can hear it.
"Carter, go inside," he says protectively.
My best friend's ex looks like he's trying to figure out what to say, but can't find the words.
"Carter!" Jace tries again.
He shakes his head. "What the hell is she doing here?"
"I have an idea," I cut in. "How about you two stop talking about me like I'm not here?"
I go to walk past Jace, but he stops me with a hand on my wrist. The defensive look in his eyes mixes with the fear I know lingers there. He's afraid. He's genuinely scared for his best friend. That's the thing about these two—when push comes to shove, they always put each other first. Maybe that's where they went wrong. And maybe that's why he should be worried about what I'll do.
"Aw, don't worry, Jacey," I coo, reaching my free hand up and patting his cheek. "I won't hurt him. At least not yet anyway."
Ripping my wrist from his grasp, I run my fingers through my hair and walk up the steps until I'm standing directly in front of Carter. He stares down at me, as if he's wondering if I'm real, and it almost makes me laugh. His breathing is quick and shallow, but it's still there. The way he looks at me like he wants me. Like his hands ache to be on my skin. Like his need for me burns so hot it might set him on fire.
"What's wrong?" I tease, loving the way just my being here is shaking him up. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Looking completely shocked, he opens his mouth to speak, but I reach up and close it for him.
"You're a lot cuter when you don't say anything at all."
With a sweet smile and a pat on Carter's cheek, I push past him and go back into the house. My original plan may have been to hide in plain sight, but this is much better. I have him exactly where I want him.
I push through the crowd until I find the football player surrounded by the most girls. He looks like the cocky type, the one whose ego overcompensates for his dick size. But if I know Carter, I know this is the teammate he dislikes the most.
Without a single word, I grab the shot glass right out of his hand and down the alcohol inside of it. The guy watches me, jaw dropped and completely mesmerized as I don't even wince at the taste of the tequila. He licks his lips and looks me up and down before smiling.
"Well damn, babe," he says, his tone silky-smooth and charming. "Where have you been all my life?"
I pull my bottom lip between my teeth and check him out without shame. "Get me another one of those and maybe you'll find out."
Passing him back the shot glass with a smile, I ignore the dirty looks being thrown my way by every desperate girl around.
"I'm Tye."
He waves for one of the guys to pour another shot and offers me his free hand.
"Mason."
