Badly Behaved

“It was an accident,” I tell him, shrugging one shoulder. “I slipped getting out of the bath.”

It’s a lie and doesn’t explain why my car is here and I wasn’t, but my hair is wet from the shower. And like Beretta pretty much pointed out, I left my car here like this when I ditched with them the last time, so maybe I left with someone else today.

Arsen’s eyes are tight, and he doesn’t believe me, so I curl my lips up higher.

Never forget your smile.

“I saw your note.”

As if he forgot, his face transforms, a sly little grin slipping over him.

“And I know you wrote that very first one, too. I have to admit, I like your voice,” I whisper. “It’s sexy, or so I imagined.”

He chuckles, and my attempt for much-needed space but my inability to take it on my own works.

He releases me, stepping back a bit.

But he’s intuitive, and he reaches out again, cupping my face.

He nods slightly and I nod back.

I’m okay, Arsen.

He doesn’t believe me, but he does join his friends inside the car.

I step around mine, slipping into the driver’s seat with conscious effort not to glance in their direction. I know their eyes are locked on me and I know they are waiting for me to give them more.

I know because I can feel it.

It’s a tragic, unwelcome warmth, one I’ll freeze out with my mother’s favorite mantra: by any means necessary.

Maybe even tonight.

But since I’m not yet in my right mind, and apparently still a glutton for punishment, I dig Arsen’s note from my purse to read it once more.

Only I don’t get to.

Because it’s gone.

Hot, sweet, cheap whiskey burns its way down my throat and I welcome the sting, then pull the second shot glass to my lips, experiencing it all over again.

I take a deep breath, finish off half of my glass of water, my mind flashing to the ocean waters from earlier this afternoon.

It was beautiful and blue.

As was the yacht that exploded four feet from me.

I wince, tearing my hand from my face when I realize I had subconsciously reached up to touch the cut on my cheek, currently buried beneath my best layer of makeup, yet is still visible enough to make the bouncer warn me that ‘spousal drama isn’t welcome in this place.’

What made Anthony decide to come to the school when we have never even spoken outside of our routine? He or his receptionist emails me Sunday’s plans, sometime Friday afternoon, I add it to mine and my mom’s calendar and show up when and where I’m told. That’s it.

And then there’s the yacht...

I growl, running my hands over my hair and planting them on the bar top a moment later.

Screw this, I didn’t come here to think.

I came for the opposite.

I turn to the dance floor, getting myself as deep into the crowd as possible.

No matter what angle I shift toward, there’s no more than five inches of space between me and another person. It’s exactly as I want it to be.

Loud enough to block out my thoughts and dark enough to hide my existence. Unruly and crowded, perfectly suffocating.

I can’t think or hear anything outside the too-loud music, but I can move.

Allowing my hips to lead, I roll in tight circles, jutting my ass out every few times to stay with the beat, and the rest of my body plays as the after wave, following the same path, every part of me lost to the wild beat.

A few songs in, I begin to sweat, so I pull my hair into a high ponytail at the top of my head. As I pull on pieces to tighten it, a guy with short dark hair slips in front of me with a half grin, so as I bring my hands down, I string them around his neck.

His grin turns to a smirk and he grips on to my hips, allowing me to move as I wish but staying close for the ride.

When his touch slides higher, I step into him more, my hands running down his neck, and staying there. One of his palms moves along my back, down the curve of my waist, and pauses there, his fingertips teasing the curve of my ass. He’s waiting to see if I’ll protest, but I do him one better and smirk up at the golden-eyed guy.

He chuckles, bringing himself closer when I fist his shirt.

Anthony’s eyes flash in my mind right then, and I squeeze mine shut, pulling my partner closer.

He skims his lips along my jaw.

This better not leave a scar...

I bite into my cheek, tilting my head in invitation, and the guy accepts, dipping into my neck, his lips pecking me there. He cups my ass now, his mouth hovering over mine, teasing, but teasing isn’t going to help.