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“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
Struggling to ignore the way his cologne fills my senses, I do my best to stay strong. “Well, I was about to drink a beer before you so rudely interrupted.”
“No,” he growls. “What do you think you’re doing here? You don’t belong here.”
“Really? We’re back to that now?” He stays firm, making me scoff. “Well, last I checked, this isn’t your house.” I turn my attention to Zayn. “Are you going to kick me out?”
He raises both hands in surrender. “No way. Don’t pull me into that mess. I’m staying out of this one.”
I smile sweetly, grabbing the beer once again, popping it open, and bringing it to my lips. As I take a sip, I wink at Knox and walk past him. He throws his hands up in the air at Zayn, and I can’t help but laugh just a bit.
IF I THOUGHT HE was possessive on the night of my birthday, he’s fucking homicidal now. I can feel his eyes burning into the side of my head all night. I do my best to avoid looking his way, but the times I cave, he’s staring right at me with a deep scowl on his face.
“So, where are you looking to go for college?” the guy I’ve been talking to asks. Casey, or Cody—something with a C.
“I’m not sure. I was thinking maybe Columbia or Brown. I haven’t decided yet.”
His eyes widen. “Wow, Ivy League. Nice.” He looks around. “Do you want to step outside? Somewhere a little more private.”
I don’t. There’s nothing really appealing about his golden-boy vibe. I guess only the bad boys do it for me. Still, I know nothing will piss Knox off more than me going anywhere with this kid.
“Sure.”
He leads the two of us through the house and out onto the back deck. It’s beautiful out here at night, lit up by the moonlight and some Tiki torches Z lights for the people who can’t fit inside the house. Right now, though, it’s just him and me.
“Now that I can hear myself think,” whatever-his-name-is jokes.
I chuckle softly and lean against the railing. He comes closer and places his hands on either side of me. Just when he starts going in for a kiss, he’s ripped backward and slammed against the house. All I can see is the back of Knox’s shirt as he holds the guy in place with an arm to his throat.
“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll get the fuck out of here and never go near her again. Do you understand me?”
He nods, looking scared enough to piss his pants, and I roll my eyes. The second Knox releases him, the kid takes off. Fucking wuss.
“Satisfied?”
His breathing is labored, and for the first time in a while, I see something more than an empty abyss in his eyes. “I don’t know what game you’re trying to play, but cut it the fuck out. Go home, Delaney.”
“No,” I hold my ground. “Not until you tell me what happened. We were fine—happy, even—and then you ended it, just like that. No warning. No explanation. Just squashed our relationship like a bug on the floor. Your life is completely unchanged while mine has been a fucking mess.” I’m getting emotional, which is what I wanted to avoid, but there’s no hope for that. I wrap my arms around myself. “Do I even cross your mind at all?”
He stays motionless, refusing to say anything. I exhale as I realize standing here with him is a lost cause. He’s never going to give me anything more than he already has.
“Whatever,” I mutter, walking around him and toward the house.
“No.” His voice sounds gravelly and I stop but don’t turn around. “You don’t cross my mind; you fucking live in it. It’s like you’ve taken up residence at the forefront of my brain.” He comes behind me until I can feel him pressed against my back. “There’s no getting rid of you. No drug that could ease the pain that came when I pushed you away. Believe me, you think I’m doing all right, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
“Then why?”
He rests his forehead against me and breathes in the smell of my hair. “It’s in your best interest. I’m doing this for you.”
r /> “I find that hard to believe.”
“Do you trust me?”
The question alone stings more than anything he’s said all night. “I did.”
He swallows so hard I can hear it. “Then go home. Go to Savannah’s. Go anywhere, but stay away from here. Stay away from me, because fuck, Bambi, you’re too perfect to get pulled down into my mess.”
His words resonate in my brain, but no part of me accepts them. A tear escapes and slides down my cheek.
