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“Little boy? You haven’t evenbegunto see what I’m cap—”
I lifted my hand and smiled sarcastically. “Save it, dick lick. I don’t care. You know what’s even worse than how you treat me?”
He gave an amused laugh. “I’ll bite. What’s that?”
“How you treat yourself.”
Damian studied me a moment, his amusement falling. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“You pretend to be some hard asshole, like you’re not worth a fuck, but I’m not an idiot. I see through that shit. People are so fucking easy to read, and you’re the easiest of all. You’ve suffered your own brand of bullshit in your lifetime, and you deal with it by deflecting and hiding behind it. The shitty part is, there’s probably something below the surface that’s actually really awesome about you. I’m betting if you cut the shit and told me somerealandhonestthings about yourself, I’d find a lot there to like. Just like you’d find a lot to like about me. Instead, you do yourself a disservice and hide all the good behind a mask of motherfuckery, pushing everyone away so you can make damned sure everyone hates you. And why? So you don’t have to risk getting close to anyone and risk them letting you down like you’ve already been let down. How was that? Was I close?”
His eyes widened a bit as he stared at me in shock. Something I didn’t quite recognize crossed his face, but before I got a chance to read much into it, we were interrupted.
“Damian,” Harper said. I looked over and watched her walk up. She narrowed her eyes at me before turning sickly sweet as she looked at him. She wrapped her arms around his and hugged it. “You should come dance with me.”
A devious grin spread across his lips, his normal demeanor instantly returning. I could see the relief in his tense shoulders as his mask fell back in place. “Not even close, lost little lamb. Don’t ever try to find something redeemable in me. You’ll be theonlyone disappointed.”
He leaned down to kiss Harper, and my gut twisted. It was slow and passionate, and I hated the instant rage that spread through me. I felt jealous, angry, and sad. Mostly, I wanted him to tell her to fuck off and kiss me like that instead.
I swallowed it, which only made my eyes want to water since I wasn’t the best at shoving emotions down. My thing was exploding and infinite brutal honesty. This would take practice.
Just make him leave, and you can let go. Make him leave.
“Yes, well, it seems you’re a bit busy,” I said. “I’m sure you’ll have plenty of opportunities to annoy the ever-living fuck out of me later.”
He gave a dark laugh as he allowed Harper to pull him away onto the dance floor. While I knew she only did that because she’d allowed her own jealousy to control her, I wanted to believe deep down she’d tried to rescue me.
Don’t do that to yourself either, you idiot, I thought.
Right…
That would never happen. Why would she rescue me from the positionsheput me in to begin with?
Her big evil plan had backfired. Instead of Damian just treating me like shit and trying to get rid of me, he had some sick fascination with me and enjoyed touching me and making me his. She hadn’t anticipated that, and I know it pissed her off intensely.
“Fucking dick,” Justin blurted out behind me.
I turned to find his eyes staring Damian down as he walked away with Harper. Both of Justin’s hands were balled into fists at his sides, and I turned to grab them, giving them a gentle squeeze.
His light brown eyes turned on mine, and I smiled. Even though it was forced, I felt it reach my eyes. “Hey, relax. He’s gone. Don’t let that asshole ruin our night. Besides, aren’t you guys the ones that are supposed to be reassuringmetonight?”
He smiled and reached over to the bar, sliding a faded orange colored drink toward me. “You’re right. Now drink up. Let’s have some fun.”
I smiled and took a drink. “Wow, that really is good. Youdoknow me well,” I told Luna.
She lifted her hands. “See? Told you. By the way, have I mentioned Ilovethe way you talk to him? He’s such a dick.”
I nodded. “Indeed, he is. In fact, I think I need to get some fresh air.”
“Want some company?” Justin asked.
I shook my head. “No, but thank you. I appreciate it.”
Grabbing my drink because I trusted no one with them, I headed outside to get some fresh air. Once I was outside, I inhaled deeply. I smelled some of the equipment and materials lying around, but I didn’t mind. It was far more refreshing than being inside where Damian’s scent still lingered in the air next to me.
“Hey,” an unfamiliar voice said behind me.
I turned quickly, almost dropping my drink. I hadn’t even heard him walk up. Clearly, that could have been bad. I needed to pay more attention.