My voice trembles in anger. “Did you stalk Charlie and break into their house?”
He is taken aback, and I motion for him to follow me to a quieter area where there are fewer people around. “I’ve already told you this, it’s no secret, and I’m ashamed of my behavior back then.”
“You haven’t answered my question. Did you break into their home?”
“Of course, you’ll believe whatever your brother tells you,” he shouts.
“Why won’t you answer my question?”
“Yes, it’s fucking true. All right? I did all those things that he told you. I was high half the time, and the minute I sobered up, I used Charlie as a reason to stay clean.”
“But you…” I can’t even think now. “Why were you angry when we left my parents’ house? Were you jealous?”
“Jesus Christ! What the hell is this?”
“You tell me? I’m not the one who goes silent after they hear their ex-fiancée was screwed in the bathroom.”
“What do you expect from me, huh?” He pulls off his mask, his hair a wild mess and eyes shadowed in dark circles.
“Is it too much for me to ask you not to care?”
“It bugged me, okay? You tell me she’s been fucked in the bathroom just to piss me off. How the hell do you want me to react?”
“I don’t want you to react! In fact, I didn’t tell you to get a reaction, I was just sounding off because I was disgusted. This is what I was always afraid of… you still have feelings for her. What the fuck is it about Charlie? Do you think about her when we have sex?”
“Is that what you think of me?” he chokes, barely able to speak.
“Well, you never deny it, Julian.”
“I shouldn’t have to. You have seen the hell I’ve been through, Adriana, and you want to throw that back in my face?”
“Well, it all makes sense now. I’m just a distraction or even some pawn in your sick twisted game. Why else would you stick around for so long?”
“Because I fucking love you, all right! But what good is that when you can’t get over your insecurities. Elijah didn’t abandon you by choice. He was dying, you need to stop being selfish and realize it’s not all about you.”
I remain quiet, not realizing everyone is gawking around us. Tristan stands close to Julian, waiting with caution.
“We’ll talk about this later,” I mutter.
“What’s the point, Adriana? You’ve obviously painted quite a pretty picture of me. I can’t escape my mistakes, and even when I try, you’re pushing me to make friends and attend parties like I’m invincible.”
Lex moves quickly to my side. “Do not talk to my sister like that.”
“Stay the fuck out of this, will you? You’ve finally got what you wanted.” Julian stands in front of Lex toe to toe, both of them glowering and on the verge of all hell breaking loose.
Lex lowers his voice, “And that’s how it will stay.”
In a swift move, Julian punches Lex in the face causing a hive of activity and Rocky to step in between them. It’s a blur, and the sounds are drowned out, the yelling and screaming as I stand still completely numb for seconds on end. The moment I snap out of it, I see Lex being held back by Rocky, his bloody face mixed with the white face paint is distorted by anger and pure hatred. Julian fares no better. There’s blood all over his face and a cut above his eye, Tristan and Eric trying to calm him down as he bites back at Lex, both of them fueled by rage and jealousy.
“Stay the fuck away from my wife,” Lex lashes out.
“Always about you, Edwards,” Julian spits back.
“You’re damn right. My wife, and that’s how it’ll always stay.”
“Can’t erase the past, Edwards. I’m not the one bringing it up all the time.”