Page 95 of The Toy Maker

My stomach twisted with dread, and my eyes followed every fluid movement of his muscles as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

He pulled her into his chest, and my heart nearly burst inside of mine.

Then he pulled her closer, and my blood ran hot. She wrapped a leg around his waist, moaning as he kissed her neck.

The seconds ticked by in slow motion. I told myself to look away, but my eyes were glued to the scene of the crime. It was then that I realized that everyone else had stopped to witness Jason in action.

What was the point? To prove that he could have chosen anyone else to test his projects?

His lips traveled lower, brushing over her collarbone, her chest?—

I stopped breathing.

It wasn’t a dance anymore.

It was a message. Ethan was right, I was disposable to Jason, and he had just proved it.

I heard Jade’s voice next to me, but everything sounded muffled, like I was underwater.

I squeezed my eyes shut, finally tearing myself away from Jason’s act of revenge.

I didn’t know how much time had passed before Jade snapped me out of it, “Dude, are you okay?”

I opened my eyes to see her curiously staring back at me. I looked past her and saw Wendy gathering herself off the floor, but Jason was nowhere to be found.Coward.

“Earth to Tara?” Jade prodded.

I forced my voice to remain neutral. “Yes.”

She raised an eyebrow, and I knew she didn’t buy it. Lucky for me, she had something else on her mind.

“Can you believe all that?” No, I couldn’t.

“Anyone else need to go change?” Sarah chimed in as the other Cherries gossiped.

“There was just too much chemistry there for them not to be doing it,” the Cherry beside me stated.

Her friend agreed, “I’ve heard that he always chooses one of us to fuck. It’s tradition.”

I tortured myself as the girls proclaimed how lucky Wendy was to be chosen and how they would give anything to be with him. Finally, the truth was clear.

Jason never wanted to be with me, he just wanted to use me.

And when he got bored, he’d move on to the next girl, if he hadn’t already.

I turned to leave, ready to escape before my heart collapsed— and then I locked eyes with Kitty. She wasn’t fawning over Jason. She wasn’t laughing like the other girls.

She was just watching me.

And for the first time all night, her face softened. She weaved through the crowd and pulled me into her embrace. I stiffened. But then, slowly, I let myself lean into her.

I fought back the urge to cry while she wrapped her arms around me; was I that obvious? She let go and stared at me for a moment before giving me a light smile and squeezing my hand.

“You should go home early today,” she said softly.

“What’s wrong?” Sarah must have noticed Kitty’s sudden affection. I opened my mouth to answer, but Kitty cut me off.

“She isn’t feeling well, and I think it’s best if she rests.”