Page 80 of Piggy

My chin trembles. It’s so hard to look at him.

I wipe my eyes and realize my fingers are smudged black with eyeliner and mascara. I frown.

“You look beautiful,” he assures, as if reading my mind.

“No, I don’t,” I pout.

“I like your hair, too. And that dress. You look like... you know guys now.”

“Shut up,” I whine. “Please stop being nice to me. Ihateyou.”

Because that’s what I want. To hate him.

He guides me to the pool’s edge and lets go. His gaze sweeps down, stealing a glance at my nearly naked body. Our eyes lock for a moment, the intensity between us burns. But without a second look, his fingers tug my dress down, covering my body.

He lifts me effortlessly from the water. I sit on the ledge, dripping, trembling, staring down at him.

He kisses my knee gently, like he still likes me, every word and caress a tease of what could have been.

I scowl. “Looks like you got a great life here, partying in a penthouse. Screwing OnlyFans girls,” I say bitterly.

“I’m crew. Not a participant.”

I roll my eyes.

He pulls himself out of the pool and sits on the edge with me. We stare at the ocean.

His fingertips skim over mine, but I jerk my hand away.

“I told you, don’t touch me.”

“When did you start drinking?” he deflects, like he has any right to ask.

But I reply curtly, “When my life imploded. Brax went to prison. I lost Atticus... lost you.”

He sighs heavily. “I’m sorry. Look... I, uh, I have so much I want to tell you.” He swallows hard. He’s struggling to even look at me.

He seemsnervous.

My heart begins to race because I haven’t seen him like this before.

“What is it?” I ask.

He breathes in deep. “The last time I saw you... I—”

“Grayson,” a woman’s voice interrupts.

I look over my shoulder.

Meghan.

“Of course,” I mumble under my breath, feeling so stupid for second-guessing myself. I scramble to my feet and rush past her.

“Charlotte. Stop!”

I don’t look back. I just need to get away from him. He’s like pain in human form. Every time I get close, he burns me.

Keysha holds the door open, and the elevator outside pings.