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“No.” I licked at a salty tear as it ran down my cheek. “I love you, Zara. That isn’t a lie—”
“You can keep your love, brother fucker.” Her chin rose and she bared her teeth, her words like a dagger in my belly. “Now leave me alone, you whore. Go find another girl to befriend or a boy to fuck because we’re done here.”
With a fierce pirouette, she whacked me in the face with her hair and stormed into the house. Her boyfriend looked me up and down with scorn, clucked his tongue, then chased after her.
I hiccupped on a breath. Everything that’d happened today with Aslan. All my feelings and fears churned and crested until my knees trembled to run. Turning on my heel, I swallowed down a sob and went to bolt—
Only...
A strong hand clamped around my wrist.
I froze, blinking back tears as I glowered at the blond-haired guy. “Let go of me.”
He pouted. “You’re crying. Let’s go get a drink.”
“No. I’m going home.”
“Not until you’ve calmed down. Come on.” Not giving me an option, he dragged me around the beanbags and vapers and back into the house. The trance music had switched to another drum and bass track, making my blood pound in my veins.
My head hurt.
My eyes stung.
I wanted to leave so badly.
But he didn’t let me go and dragged me into the kitchen, pushing aside some lingering people around the sink and yanking open the fridge.
Pulling out a bottle of Coke, he let me go long enough to head to the cupboard above the range, grab a mug, and pour some Coke into it. He knew his way around which hinted he’d been here before with Zara and her boyfriend. His back flexed beneath his shirt while he poured. Screwing the lid back on, his fingers disappeared into his front pocket for a split second before he spun, and his face cracked into a commiserating smile.
“Here.” He passed me the coffee mug with a picture of a cat hanging off a branch. “A bit of sugar and caffeine will knock the shock right out of you.” He shrugged. “Being called a whore and a brother fucker by your ex-bestie has got to hurt.”
I took the mug automatically, my well-bred manners not giving me a choice. “Thanks.”
“No worries.” He shoved both hands into his back pockets and leaned against the countertop, his eyes never leaving mine. “Name’s Ethan.”
I looked at the fizzy Coke hissing in the mug. I wasn’t in the mood for soda, and I definitely wasn’t in the mood to talk to a total stranger.
The sea was calling my name.
A steady ebb and flow of the tide tugged on the salt in my blood, begging me to go for a moonlit swim where there were no boys, no girls, and no heartache.
Sapphire...
Dad would never know if I took The Fluke out and went to visit the dolphins. She’d listen to all my woes and make me feel better. Dad wasn’t expecting me home until this time tomorrow.
The sudden sense of freedom—knowing I could go anywhere and do whatever I wanted for the next twenty-four hours—buoyed me enough to give a half-smile of thanks and raise the mug to my lips.
Ethan never took his eyes off me as I drank.
My skin prickled as a slow smile curled his lips.
He was handsome in a true-blue Aussie kinda way, but my skin didn’t prickle, and my heart didn’t flutter. He was light whereas Aslan was dark. He was broader whereas Aslan was lean and strong. He was young in the eyes, while Aslan carried centuries of hardship.
Lowering the mug, I went to place it on the countertop.
Ethan crowded me, pressing gently beneath my hand and raising it back to my lips. “Finish it. You need the pick-me-up.”
A scared little nudge kicked my stomach, and I pushed my hand against his. “I’m fine.” I looked at the dark popping liquid in the mug. “I drank half. That’s all I need. I’m going to go home now.”
“Ah, really? But we just met.” He smiled so wide, I could’ve counted all his perfect white teeth. “Don’t you want to party? My buddy Cooper is fucking your friend right about now. They’re pretty wrapped up in each other, and I bet I could put in a good word for you. Better yet, if you spend the night with me, then she’d see it wasn’t just her brother you were interested in and could drop her guard that you were gonna hurt him again.”
I scowled and backed away. Placing the half-drunk mug down, I shook my head. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m just gonna go.” Without waiting for his reply, I spun on my heel and weaved around the party-goers behind me. More people had arrived; the living room was tight with bodies.
