She shook her head gently. “Just… come on.”
They led me through the thinning crowd toward the parking lot, which was really just part of the field that had been cordoned off with temporary fences.
“I’m just going to…” Miles pointed toward the line of porta-potties.
“Me too actually. Harleigh, do you need to go?”
“Not me,” I said. “I’ll wait here.”
“Miles can go first and then I’ll—”
“Seriously? I’ll wait riiight here.” I dropped down on the bench just down from the line. “Go.”
“Promise you won’t move?”
“Scouts honor.” I lifted two fingers in the air but my arm felt all heavy.
Weird.
“Go.” I shooed them off.
“We’ll be as quick as we can.”
Miles handed me the oversized stuffed bear and I waved them off, swaying from side to side as I watched people come and go. Sweat beaded along the back of my neck, my skin clammy. Maybe Celeste was right, maybe I was having a reaction. It would explain the goofy smile I couldn’t wipe off my face.
There was probably a good reason you shouldn’t drink alcohol on benzodiazepines.
But it was only two beers.
Although I hadn’t been thinking about the risks at the time, desperate to escape the gnawing pit inside me. The way Zane’s words had clung to me like a bad smell despite my attempts to brush them off.
You need to stay away from Nix.
Because I was the problem.
Me.
My fingers curled around the edge of the bench, pressing into the rough wood. No, my high was slipping. My adrenaline levels plummeting into my toes. Down, down, down. I wanted to sleep. To close my eyes and fall into oblivion.
Then I saw them, standing near Nix’s car.
Nix and Cherri Jardin.
She had him pressed up against the hood, running her hand up his chest in a bold display of ownership.
I sucked in a sharp breath, trying to force air into my lungs.
Of course he was with her. They had always had a thing—or at least, she’d always had a thing for Nix.
She leaned in, nuzzling his neck. Nix slid a hand into her bottle-blonde hair. I’d imagined so many times what it would feel like to have his undivided attention like that. What it would feel like to have him touch me so possessively. How it would—
His eyes snapped to mine, and everything went quiet. The air turned as taut as a bowstring as she continued to kiss his neck, teasing him, touching him. All while he watched me.
I began to tremble; my breaths coming in short, sharp bursts. But I couldn’t look away. I couldn’t tear my eyes away even though it felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest.
My stomach roiled, churning with acid. Those imaginary walls closing in around me, the air thinning.
God, please no. Not here. Not now.