Page 54 of Loving the Tormentor

There's not a flicker of emotion on his face. Not a wince, no glint of regret.Nothing. Just his amused steel eyes on me. "So don't damage this one, alright?"

I'm dying to say something. To give the violin back. But someone steps out from backstage, and I keep my mouth shut when I see Evelyn and Miss Rivera.

Achilles turns to say hi to them, leaving me behind as students start to flood in from the entrance. This conversation is over. This violin is mine.

Achilles Duval knows my secret, and he didn't torment me for it. No, he gave me a priceless custom-made violin instead. Because despite what he says, I'm not the only one who believes in my dream.

He does too.

Chapter Thirteen

Nyx

Dear god – Tate McRae

On Saturday, I get a text from Peach when I leave my afternoon shift at the restaurant.

Peach: The girls are coming over for margaritas and cookies. Ella literally makes the best cookies in the world and my margaritas are amazing. You don't want to miss out. You know where we live. Come after your shift.

I yawn as I read it. It's only six p.m., but I'm exhausted from a week of classes and then enjoying my evenings getting familiar with my new violin. It's perfect. So perfect, I spent the week wondering why I hadn't heard from Achilles. Why hasn't he texted me or given me any attention? And why does it make me feel empty? Was I already getting used to his unwanted focus? So much so that it's not so unwanted anymore?

I bite my inner cheek as I look at the text from Peach. She's Achilles's neighbor, and the idea that I could bump into him issending my heart racing, pumping pleasure through my veins. Excitement gets the better of me, and I tell Peach I'm on my way.

As I park in front of Peach's campus house, I question whether the mansions here will ever stop impressing me. They're nowhere near the buildings where we have classes, so the last time I saw them was for the house party at Achilles and Wren's house.

"Hi!" Alex shouts excitedly as she opens the door for me, eyes shining and telling me that she's already heavily tipsy.

I've barely passed through the doorway, and I've got a margarita in my hand, the smell of fresh-baked cookies making me salivate.

"Welcome to the house of angry girlfriends!" Peach exclaims when we walk into the living room.

She's standing on the sofa with a margarita in her hands, and "10 Things I Hate About You" by Leah Kate is playing loudly. Her drink sloshes to the sides of her glass as she jumps on the cushions.

Alex downs her drink and joins her, jumping with her as they scream the lyrics at each other.

"What. Is. Happening?" I ask, wide eyes watching my new friends act like they've all broken up with their boyfriends.

Ella settles by my side, holding a batch of cookies. She puts the plate on the coffee table and points at Peach.

"Wren ordered her to stay at home while he's out taking care of business."

"Ordered,Nyx. Heorderedme, like I'm some fucking trad wife who'll do whatever he says," Peach rages, still jumping on the couch.

Ella's index finger moves to Alex. "Xi told her to…how did he word it, exactly?"

Alex pauses, her sweet features turning harsh to imitate her broody boyfriend.

"Don't ask questions you don't want the answers to,Cupcake," she says in a low voice. "Just worry about not getting in trouble with me, yeah?"

She jumps off the sofa, striding to me before she goes on her toes to pretend she's as big as Xi. Grabbing my jaw with her hand, she shakes my head a little. "Got it, Cupcake?"

With an exaggerated roll of her eyes, she huffs and puffs as she grabs a cookie. "Do this, Cupcake. Don't do that, Cupcake. Be a good girl, Cupcake. Cupcake thinks you're an asshole."

I have to pinch my lips not to burst out laughing. Turning to Ella, I ask, "What about yours?"

She shakes her head. "Mine doesn't say anything. He keeps his secrets to himself, expecting me to be okay with it because I wouldn't leave, right?" She bites angrily into a cookie. "I'm not okay with it, by the way."

"You wouldn't leave?" I question as Peach gets off the couch to pour herself another margarita.