Hating You, Loving You (Inked Hearts 4)

"You weren't," she says.

"Giving up my bargaining power." I shake my head with mock shame. "Fuck. I need to work on my negotiation skills."

She nods.

"Get up here with me because you want to."

She bites her lip.

"'Cause if you don't, I'm gonna have to do Smells Like Teen Spirit instead of Jeremy and nobody wants that."

She nods with mock disgust. "That would be horrible."

By the second verse, Chloe is in it, belting out the song with everything she's got. When we finish, she hands the mic to Walker, who regales us with his best Metallica impression.

Bit by bit, she relaxes into the room. Sings along with everyone, cheers, laughs, mocks me as senselessly as I deserve.

Everyone makes an effort to include Chloe. Hell, everyone likes her more than they like me.

Which is fine by me.

I don't live my life looking to be liked.

After a dozen songs, I lean in close and whisper in her ear. "Meet me in the bathroom in two songs."

She looks up at me and raises a brow really.

I nod hell yes. If she's not game for that, fine. But I'm taking her somewhere and fucking her.

She nods back, a much more timid okay, then she scoots to the other bench to get lost in Leighton and Iris's conversation.

I hang back. Watch Ryan serenade Leighton with her favorite song—this miserable, breathy number where the singer sounds simultaneously mid-fuck and about to break.

Personally, I don't see the appeal. But she laps it up like warm milk.

When Emma grabs the mic, I move to the door. Leave as inconspicuously as possible.

But the hallway isn't empty. Brendon is leaning against the wall, staring at me with a knowing look on his face.

I stare back. "Reliving a favorite memory?" Once upon a time, he popped Kaylee's cherry at this very karaoke. At least, that's the impression I got.

He shrugs maybe. "You really like her, huh?"

"Yeah, I do." My shoulders tense then relax. It's weird not firing back a joke. But it feels good, admitting it aloud. I want to scream it. I want to tell the entire world.

"You sure you know what you're doing?"

"Fuck no."

Brendon chuckles. "Sounds about right."

"Did you?"

He peers through the window on the door. Watches Kaylee clap over Em's performance. "Not for a second."

"Even after all that time pining?"

"Only made it worse."