Gritting her teeth, she tried not to growl at her friend or to get angry. With every second that passed, it was getting harder and harder to not say something.
“I know Drake’s an asshole but his parties are the best, and I really want to be in there. You understand, don’t you? Or don’t you? I know you’re a loser. You and Sean are happy to stay in the loser camp but I’ve got plans and I need Drake. We have to go around the back. There’s no way he’s going to want to see you like this.”
Prudence had heard enough. Sean was right, as usual. Ree didn’t deserve their friendship. “You know what, I’m done. After tonight, you’re on your own. I’m sick and tired of you treating me and Sean like we’re some kind of lesser beings. You get what you want, and then you don’t come near us again. And another thing, I’m not going around the back, Ree. I’m going through this front door, and that’s final.” She opened the front door to Drake’s home, her heart pounding. She felt sick to her stomach.
The door closed behind her and several people noticed her. All it took was one look, and she watched as they ran out of the main hallway, probably about to alert Drake to her presence.
“See, we should have gone around the back,” Ree said.
“Not happening.” Still holding onto her friend, she charged through the group of people, wanting them out of her way. She wasn’t going to run away or be scared. Drake was just a baby in a guy’s body.
Moving through his large home, she didn’t take the time to enjoy it. The place seemed cold and empty, even with all the people inside. It didn’t take her long to find Drake. He sat with his friends in what looked like a game room.
Someone was talking to him and she pulled Ree toward her. “Connor,” she said, drawing his attention to her. His blue eyes glared right back at her, but she didn’t give a fuck.
This was her vacation time as well, and she didn’t want to be here at this party.
“So, you finally decided to show up.”
She pointed at Ree, wanting to hurt him instead, to wipe the smug look off his face. “I didn’t finally decide anything. I don’t want to be here, but Ree is here. So all of your requirements have been fulfilled.” She let Ree go and made to take a step back. Her exit was covered, though, and she refused to back down. There was no way she’d ever show any kind of weakness in front of this guy.
Drake laughed but ignored Ree, who grinned at him with hope.
“Where’s your boyfriend?” Drake asked.
“Sean’s not her boyfriend. They’re just friends,” Ree said.
She didn’t avert her gaze from Drake, and neither did he from her.
“What more do you want, Drake? Blood? A urine sample?” She wanted to shock him, to make him look weak in front of his friends. Instead, he smirked as if he knew what game she was playing. She didn’t even have a clue what game she played, only that she had to survive. She was in Drake’s territory now. There was no one on her side here.
Drake watched her, and it made her feel really unsettled, especially to have this kind of attention from him. It was the first time in a long while that she’d felt like this.
This wasn’t high school, or the park.
She was in his home, and in a way, she was at his mercy. And she didn’t like it, not even a little bit.
“Why don’t you just let her go?” Ree asked. “She’s going to go and watch boring movies anyway. We don’t need her to have some fun.”
Ree moved up to Drake, reaching out to touch him, but he did nothing more than push her aside as if she was trash.
“Why do that?” Prudence asked. She went to reach for her friend to give her a helping hand but Drake was in front of her, stopping her. “What is your problem?”
“She was more than willing to have you come here, to deal with me, and you’re still going to help her.”
“It’s what friends do.”
He laughed. “You really need to think about who you keep as a friend.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” she asked. “I’m done with this.” She had enough of dealing with this crazy drama for the year. She would have to put up with Drake for another year once school started, but that didn’t mean she needed to bother with him for the summer too.
Just as she was about to leave, he captured her hand, stopping her from going anywhere.
Staring down at where he held her, she gritted her teeth and glared at him. Why couldn’t he just leave it alone? Why did he have to always make something bad? She didn’t get it and doubted she ever would.