The hurt and pain mixed with anger reflect back at me. Perhaps I’ve gone too far, but I never claimed to be a saint or a patient one at that.
“You see, this here is why you’ll never understand,” she says with a sick laugh.
I don’t even comment. Walking away, I leave her behind. This whole thing has become drama after drama, and I don’t do drama.
Back inside, the party’s only just starting. A famous band is playing on stage. Everywhere you look, celebrities are surrounding us—some with their significant others, and the rest mingling in the crowd.
Charlie and Lex are on the dance floor along with Haden and Presley. Kate is standing at the bar, conversing with some old dude. She looks over to me, pleading with her eyes to rescue her from the situation she’s found herself in. I casually walk over and rest my arm over her shoulder in desperate need of a drink.
“Oh, would you look at who’s arrived?” she says with a fake smile. “It’s my boyfriend. Going on five years tonight. Definitely going to be celebrating all night long if you know what I mean?”
Winking at the old man, he seems to back off, excusing himself rather quickly. “He knew what you meant,” I tell her. “The whole room knew what you meant.”
“Why the foul mood, Mason? You’re such a Debbie Downer tonight.”
I’m about to open my mouth when I notice Morgan standing behind me. Kate is quick to say hello, and in typical Morgan style she acts like a fucking bitch, returning a forced smile.
“I should probably go,” Kate says cautiously. “Over there.” She points randomly into the crowd, but Morgan stops her.
“Why don’t you stay for this? Apparently, Noah has all the time in the world for you but doesn’t have a few minutes to listen to me,” she notes with dark amusement.
Kate purses her lips, unsure of what to say or do.
I don’t understand what the fuck Morgan’s problem is, quick to defend Kate’s and my relationship again. “Ignore her, Kate. Wicked bitch from the West is back,” I say out loud, never breaking her gaze.
Morgan looks stunned, her mouth slightly open with her eyes narrowing. If the music quieted down, I am sure you’d be able to hear her teeth grinding. She looks livid. And I know I’m in for the biggest fight of my life. The storm is looming, and it’s about to strike.
“We’re so done, Noah.”
I no longer care, fed up with the ridiculous games she plays.
“Great girlfriend material,” I mention sarcastically. “At least I can say I tried a relationship. Definitely not for me.”
Folding her arms with her chest rising and falling rapidly, she says, “You assumed I’m your girlfriend. As you assumed we’re in a relationship.”
That fucking hurt.
Bitch.
She moves toward me, closing the distance between us. I stare into her eyes, hoping that for just a moment, this is a petty fight. But her eyes are cold, so cold that the woman behind them isn’t the Morgan I’ve grown to love. Her lips brush against my ear, and in the sweetest of voices, she whispers, “I was only looking for a rebound, Noah.”
Like ice hitting my skin, I freeze. Paralyzed by the malicious intent of her words, she pulls away from
me and begins walking in the opposite direction. I stare into the crowd, vacant and without any emotion. The fire inside my belly is stirring, building into a fit of rage as her words sink in.
The fucking bitch!
Kate warns me to calm down, witnessing the whole encounter. I push her out of the way, scanning the room in an attempt to hunt down Morgan. She’s gone.
The crowd has grown, and willingly, I turn around and motion for the bartender to serve me.
“Noah,” Kate warns me again.
I don’t listen.
I’m done with women.
Slamming the shot down, I demand another. After four in a row, my nerves seem calmer. I head back to our table. Charlie and Lex are too touchy-feely for my liking.