“Shit,” I curse, taking in the beautiful vehicle. “This is pure sex.”
“Then you’ve been having the wrong sex, gorge,” Marleigh says with a laugh. I roll my eyes at her response. She’s draped in floor-length, silver satin that hugs her every curve. The halter neck holds the dress up, while the cut-out diamond shape at her chest offers a glimpse of cleavage.
“Oh please, I just didn’t go sleeping with a college boy every day after school,” I tease, causing her to blush. She shrugs me off, and we make our way to the car where I slip into the passenger seat.
“Yeah, and I haven’t been shacking up with a hot teacher,” Marleigh retorts playfully, which only feels like a kick in the gut. “Shit, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I have to get over it. Right?”
She shakes her head sadly before pressing the start button. The stereo’s on, playing “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish. It throbs through the speakers, and I smile. “See? Music is the remedy.” She winks before pulling out onto the road and taking us toward the school.
I haven’t told her how difficult it’s been without him. I haven’t confessed just how painful it is to be at school, walking around campus without Elian near. I’m not sure where he’s gone, and I haven’t seen Ahren in weeks, which feels far too long, and I miss him and his friendship.
By the time we reach the academy, I’m less nervous, but I’m having second thoughts about being here, yet Marleigh doesn’t allow me to race home. Not like I could in these fucking heels. So, I follow her up to the entrance which has been set up like a fairytale ball.
“Smile, pretty girls.” The familiar rumble of Ahren has me spinning on my heels to find him standing behind me. He’s dressed in black leather, as usual, but it’s the look in his eye that makes my heart settle in my chest. He makes me feel like being home. Like a brother would calm my crazy, that’s what Ahren does for me.
“You’re here.” It comes out as a disbelieving whisper, but he hears me. Ahren loops his arm through mine, and we head inside, but he doesn’t explain why he’s here. I want to ask, it burns the tip of my tongue, but I don’t want to sound like a crazy ex-girlfriend. They’ve already had one of those, and I don’t plan on being another.
Ahren doesn’t stop until we get to the bar which, thankfully, is serving drinks. Even though everything is non-alcoholic, I grab one and swallow down two mouthfuls. I can’t describe what it feels like seeing Elian’s brother here and knowing he’s not close by.
“What are you doing here?” I ask Ahren as he leads me onto the dance floor, ignoring Marleigh who’s staring at us with her mouth agape in shock at the turn of events. The song changes before he can respond, and I’m taken into his arms, and we slowly move across the floor. Even though there are a few couples already dancing, it’s as if we’re the only people here.
“He’s …” Ahren shakes his head. “Don’t Give Me Those Eyes” by James Blunt screams at us, and I wonder if it’s him speaking to me from a goddamned song. I’ve lost my fucking mind. “He didn’t want to leave.”
“Well, he did,” I bite out, anger taking over the sadness that’s been holding me hostage since Elian left me standing in the darkness. “He doesn’t deserve my tears.” Even as I grit the words through clenched teeth, I feel the burn of salty emotion about to take over.
“He doesn’t. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want them.” The music slows, and as it comes to an end, Ahren doesn’t release me. His arms are warm, affectionate, and for a moment, I think he’s going to kiss me. But he doesn’t lean in, he doesn’t capture my mouth like Elian used to do. He merely stares at me. “My brother did tend to enjoy making girls cry.”
I watch the younger Donati, and I can’t help but sneer at his response. “He’s an asshole.”
“Why?” he challenges as he spins me across the dance floor when another song starts up, and we weave in between the other couples, and I’m lost in the way we’re moving effortlessly. “Because he saved you? Or because he chose to leave the life that he built behind to ensure you’re able to graduate?”
I look around, taking in all the happy faces, and I wish I could be one of them. But I also ponder Ahren’s questions for a long moment. I don’t know how to answer him without breaking down. It hasn’t been long, but it feels as if a part of me has been torn from my chest. I lock my gaze on Ahren’s before I finally whisper the words I’ve hidden deep in my heart since his kiss, “Because he left me.”