Parking the car, I move to exit the car when Lexi tugs on my sleeve. “Before we go in, can I please talk to you about something?”
She says this so quietly that my lips turn down into a deep frown. We were having a good time tonight, and I know whatever she has to say is serious. Turning to look at her, I answer, “Sure.”
Looking down at her hands, she starts, “Michael came to see me this morning. And while we were talking, he told me how much he likes his job, and that he likes you a lot, even if you can be scary. I can tell he looks up to you a lot.” Blinking rapidly, she rambles, “Which is great, because he needs a good male role model in his life. Especially one as successful as you, so I don’t want you to think I’m on your back or anything given that you gave him a job that he needed, with no questions asked and—”
I cut her off, “This story got a point?”
Looking up at me, her pupils dilated, I can tell the weed has affected her, even though it was a small amount. She breathes, “Right.” Swallowing hard, she whispers, “He…he sort of looked like he went into his head a little while and mentioned something…something about cutting, stabbing, and gouging.”
My face devoids of all emotion.
That boy and I will be having a good talk tomorrow.
She sees the immediate change on my face and backs up, “He didn’t say much…”
“He said something.”
Rolling her eyes, she states, “He only said that because he thinks you’re my boyfriend!” Then she scoffs as if this was the most ridiculous notion she’s ever heard.
And just like that, everything I began feeling for Lexi over the last few days shrivels, shrinks, and dies away.
This is what she thinks of you. You’re not good enough for her. You’ll never be good enough for her. You’ll always be too street for her. She’ll never see you the way you want her to. And for good reason. You are scum…and you know it.
“Inside.” I seethe as I exit the car.
Hearing the car door shut behind me, I don’t wait for her as I approach the house. Walking up the front steps, the quick clicking of heels lets me know I’m walking too fast for her to keep up.
But I don’t care.
Walking up the steps, I hear her call out, “Where are you going?”
“I’ll be down in five.”
Because, truthfully, I need that five minutes to get my shit under control.
Finding a deserted corner in the ballroom, I watch through rose-colored glasses as everyone converses around me. I’m a wallflower. Or at least I will be until Twitch comes back down.
I don’t know what I said to upset him, but I know it was something bad enough that he needed to get away from me that minute.
My foggy mind seems to be playing in slow motion, or even at a delayed pace, because an irritated cough lets me know that I’m not alone.
Blinking, I look up to find Ling holding out a mirror. Six lines of white powder sit on top of it, so neat, so pretty, that they actually look appetizing.
I know what it is. I don’t have to have seen cocaine before to know that is exactly what I’m looking at. I’ve never done a drug so strong in all my life. Pot was the only drug I did, and even then it was only a few times in university. Until tonight.
Suddenly, I’m wistful.
The thoughts of how free the pot makes me feel return.
My body turns light. My frazzled brain clears. My inhibitions, gone.
Ling waves the mirror under my nose. I know what she’s doing. I know what this is.
This is a dare.
She wants to see how far I’ll go. And tonight, for Twitch, I’ll show her just how far.
I pluck the short straw from her fingers and our eyes meet. Her brows rise in question. Lowering my face to the white gold, I put the straw to my nose.
Before I can stop myself, I snort.
One line.
A small smile forms on Ling’s face. She’s impressed. She can’t believe I did it.
Neither can I.
Just as she moves to walk away, I lift the straw and snort again.
Her eyes widen in stunned disbelief. She blinks a moment before she catches herself. Bowing almost regally, she walks away to offer the stash to another guest.
A few minutes pass – at least I think it’s a few minutes – and I feel the change.
Wow.
I can see everything. And I mean everything.
I can see colors shoot out of the stereo speakers, along with the beat of the music.
Bright explosions of orange and pink and white swirl around the dancing guests.
And I’m delighted.
I can see the thoughts shooting out of people’s heads.
Some dark. Some sexy. Some plain fucked up.
I can see the air moving. Dancing. It’s begging me to join it.
Laughing out loud, I run a hand down my face before I stand and let One Republic’s Counting Stars wash over me.
I’m euphoric.
In a state of ecstasy.
And it’s bliss.
The music calls my name.
I need to dance.
Walking down the stairs, I pop the link into the button hole on the cuff of my shirt. My brow furrows when I see people gathered around the center of the ballroom.
Curious as to what’s causing the assembly, I walk a little faster the rest of the way down. I don’t have a good feeling.
My gut clenches at the sight of her.
Lexi dances off-beat to the music, at her own pace. The skirt of her short black dress swishes around her thighs, lifting high enough to see the rounded cheeks of her ass.
She looks lost. And at the very same time, found.
The void in her eyes alerts me to the fact that she’s high. Higher than high, actually.
She’s wasted.
Fuck.
Searching the ballroom, I spot Ling leaning against the wall in the shadows, smirking at the sight of Lexi. Walking with a purpose, Ling spots me a few seconds before I get to her. Smile now gone, fear shines brightly in her eyes.
She should be scared.
If someone approached me looking the way I do right now, I’d shit my pants.
Walking harder, I don’t stop until we’re toe-to-toe. Leaning down into her face, I ask in perfect calm, “What did you give her?”
Eyes wide, Ling opens her mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.
My eye twitches. The rage starts to alight the blood in my veins.
Raising my hand in slow motion, I place it on her collar bone at her neck, resting it there.
A warning.
“What did you give her?”
Ling replies in panic, “She took it herself! I just offered it to her.”
The hand at her throat tightening, I hold myself back. Dipping my chin, my eyes close as I breathe deeply, trying to get myself under control.
Releasing her, I stand tall, straightening my jacket. “What’d she take?”
Ling remains silent. I keep my eyes on hers.
My scowl is enough to make her whisper, “Blow. Two lines.”
My jaw steels.
That’s a lot of cocaine for someone who doesn’t do drugs. No wonder she’s putting on a show.
Ignoring Ling’s terrified expression, I turn to the space that’s been cleared for Lexi’s performance.
Under the spotlight, I see the perspiration on her forehead reflect the gleaming light. Her hips sway from side to side, flowing like the rolling waves of the ocean. Her hands splayed on her hips slide slowly up her ribs to cup her breasts.
She looks beautiful. Like the angel I always knew she was.
An angel…
I hate her for that. Why couldn’t she have been an asshole? It would’ve made things so much easier for me.
The hands on her breasts squeeze gently for a few seconds before they trail higher up her chest. Eyes still closed and swaying sensually, she uses one hand to squeeze the side of her neck, while the other slithers
up past her ear to slide into her hair. She tangles her fingers into her dark locks, and her hips jerk suddenly.
The vision of Lexi in a sexual trance is enough to give me hardcore wood.
Her lips part in a silent sigh.
The hand squeezing her neck glides down slowly across her breast once more, then lower still. When the hand sliding down her body halts low on her stomach, my cock twitches.
My eyes trained on her face, I watch her closed eyes and parted lips with only one thing in mind.
I want her. Now.
I’m snapped from my thoughts when I hear cat calls. Looking around, my body turns rigid when I spot Lexi.
In the middle of the ballroom. Under the spotlight. In a haze.