Page 128 of Becoming Us

“Sure. After.”

He was pinching his nose when I looked over. Our eyes met.

I raised a brow.

“This isn’t the only reason you came here, Noah,” he said, giving the table a pointed glance.

“No?”

He reached for my throat and dragged me toward him, mouth colliding with mine in something that barely resembled a kiss. “You can have as much coke as your pretty little heart desires.” His voice was sticky against my lips, fingers digging into my chin. “But first, you’re going to put out. So get that suit off and get on the bed. I want you on all fours.”

The words scraped against something raw inside me. A bitter taste rose in my throat that had nothing to do with the drugs.

“Let me have more.” I held out my hand.

He placed the bill in my palm. “Have at it. Don’t want you to pass out halfway through.”

The couch groaned as he stood, strolling toward what I assumed was his bedroom.

My eyes flicked back to the table. Two perfect white lines waited for me, still untouched.

I pulled out my phone, shut it off, and placed it face-down beside them.

The room was dark. Black couch. Black table. Black rug. Gray walls. No lights.

Almost poetic.

I leaned down, nose close to the surface, and let myself disappear into the darkness.

CHAPTER

NINETEEN

AFTER

Istared at my reflection in the mirror, trying to keep my hand steady as I traced the outline of my bottom lashes with black eyeliner. I aimed for a light touch, a soft line. Tilting my head, I checked the angle, then smudged it gently with my finger.

Jaden sat on a stool beside me, mouth slightly agape. “That looks fucking amazing. Where’d you learn to do that? It’s better than Lexie’s stuff,” he said, raising his brows at his own reflection and giving himself a once-over.

“Stuff I picked up from what feels like a lifetime ago,” I said. “Want me to check yours? It looks great to me.”

“Are you doing anything else?” he asked, still watching me.

“I’m adding a little gold.” I held up the pen for him.

“Where?”

Leaning closer to the mirror, I traced a fine golden line from the center of my eyelid, winging it slightly at the corner. I turned to show him.

“Wow…”

I chuckled as I attempted the same on the other eye. “It’s just a little eye makeup, Jay. Nothing earth-shattering.”

“You look ridiculously cool, Noah. People are going to lose their shit over you.”

A flush crept up my neck at the thought. It really did feel like a lifetime ago that I was used to hearing those kinds of things—used to knowing how to play the part and act nonchalant. Right now, I felt anything but.

Even inside the dressing room, the pulse of music and distant voices filtered through, setting my nerves on edge.