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She pulled away a little, just enough to keep her comfortable. Her finger swiped against the corner of her mouth as she looked at her reflection on the elevator wall and murmured, “Okay?”
“Okay,” I answered. “Friends for life.” As if I knew what that meant.
“Friends for life. Fuck knows we need them,” she answered with a wink as the doors opened.
We made our way back to Evan’s before classes were even finished for the day. This was going to be one long fucking party.
They were already drinking when we arrived, dressed in something a little more glamorous. Evan had on a barely there, shimmering gold dress that just floored me. She smiled as we walked in, her honey brown eyes twinkling as she rose and made her way toward us. “Margaritas on the counter, we’re partying like we’re in Ibiza apparently.”
“Fucking A.” Xael shoved her half empty glass into the air.
I smiled and helped myself as the elevator doors opened and more people spilled out. Guys and women, most I didn’t even know. But I was introduced to each and every one of them. I nodded, shook hands…and became tongue-tied as Evan pointed to the most beautiful man I’d ever seen.
“This is Damon.” Evan smiled, watching my reaction as heat found my cheeks.
“Zakharov.” He offered his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
My mouth dropped open as his amber eyes glinted. He was tall, and built, with wide shoulders and a tight ass and the kind of hair you wanted to run your fingers through. “Has anyone ever told you that you look exactly like Shawn Mendes?”
He just smiled…and there were dimples.“Yeah, I get that a lot.”
“Not only is he hot, he’s fucking loaded,” Kat called out behind me. “He’s perfect for you, Anna. A good way to get Salvatore off your case.”
My cheeks burned hotter.
“Finley Salvatore?” Damon narrowed his focus on me.
“He has a hard-on for our friend, Anna here,” Kat muttered.
“That guy’s a real asshole.” He shook his head and turned toward her. “You know, I even invited him for drinks later, and the sonofabitch had the balls to look down at me like I was fuckingnothing.”
“Tell me about it.” Evan sipped her drink. “You know, my parents even considered forcing me to marry the prick? I told them if theyeverwanted grandkids that there was no way I’d be forced to marry a cold fucking bastard like Finley Salvatore.”
“You’d be better off being married to a fucking fish.” Damon moved off and left me behind.
But I didn’t smile when they did, and I didn’t laugh at Finley’s expense. Cold. Detached.Cruel.I turned as they filled their glasses. Kat watched me with a careful stare, her eyes twinkling as she realized I'd said nothing.
Because the truth was, he was anything but cold around me.
To me…he was bruised lips and burning passion, leaving behind nothing but desolation in his wake.
“You okay?” Kat murmured, stepping closer.
Still they laughed and joked. I turned away and smiled. “Sure.”
“You know, if you like him it’s totally okay.”
I widened my eyes. “You mean Damon?”
“No, I don’t mean Damon,” she answered carefully, her voice low under the roar. “You look different when we talk abouthim, like he’s under your skin somehow and deep in your veins. We’ve all had our fantasies about Finley Salvatore, so it’s okay to entertain the thought. Just know that’sallit is, okay? Finley is…just a thought. I don’t want you to get your heart broken.”
“I won’t,” I smiled, and drank my margarita that tasted far too sweet.
But the thought of him marrying someone like Evan sent a flare of agony through me. She was perfect, harder in a boyish way, and meant for his world. She looked like she could hold her own. She looked like shebelonged.
Just like all the other girls he'd brought home.But that wasn’t me.
Their laughter sounded hollow. I turned, filled my glass again, and drank. No, I wasn’t supposed to be in their world. I was a nobody with a particular set of skills…that’s all. I was stupid and naive. I was destined to be the girl to be heartbroken. A fucking statistic if there ever was one.
