Page 25 of Rivals

“We can go, Revna,” Ryan says. I barely spare him a glance, and I stare back at her.

“No, I would like to stay. Go away, Lachlan.” Ryan spins her, and they distance themselves from me. I get closer again, and Ryan almost growls at me. Revna rolls her eyes and looks at Ryan. She leans up and kisses him again right in front of me, and it makes me want to howl.

“Why are you still here?” she says but keeps her eyes on Ryan. I can’t figure out what her angle is.Is it possible she likes him?

“I asked you for a dance.” I hold out my hand and wait for her to take it.

“Dude, she said no, just go,” Ryan says. I hold in my anger. The desire to punch Ryan continues to grow, and I don’t know how long my restraint will last. My temper has a tendency to get the best of me sometimes.

Revna throws her head back in a groan while Ryan looks between me and her. I can tell he’s starting to see that there is something between us. I’ve felt it for a while, and it’s only grown stronger since we worked together. “Will you leave if I dance with you? I’ve been having a great time, and you’re ruining it.”

“Revna, you don’t have to dance with him. We can leave right now,” Ryan says again. His hand sits at her lower back, and I want to rip it off.

“No, it’s fine. He won’t go away until I do, and I’d like to get back to the nice evening we’ve been having.” Ryan gives her an accomplished smile and releases her. She takes my hand, and I jerk her forward, leaving no space between us. Her back is now to Ryan, and I send him a triumphant look as I spin us away.

Ryan walks over to the bar, likely to get himself another drink. I don’t blame him, I make myself want to drink, too. “Why are you the way you are?” Revna says. Her words form a question, but it definitely comes off as more of a statement.

“The same could be said for you.” She purses her lips.

“Why are you here? How did you know I was here?” she asks.

I debated on not telling her how I knew she would be here, but what’s the point? “Ryan asked me what you would think about this place. He wanted another guy’s opinion.”

“Why would he—“ Understanding falls over her features. “What did you say to him?”

I shrug and grin down at her and spin us around. We seamlessly dance together, and Revna doesn’t appear to notice as she glares at me, still wondering what I said.

She grips my shirt at the shoulder and says, “What did you say, Lachlan?”

I tilt my head, wondering what she thinks I said. Her lips are a glossy red, but I miss that natural, dusty pink color. Then I drag my eyes from her mouth to her smokey eyes. She does her eyes like an artist. The pigment is perfectly blended and fades out in the corners. There is bright eyeshadow that highlights the inner corner of her eyes, making her eyes brighter and somehow more intense. “I didn’t say much, only that I thought you would like this place.”

“But why did he ask you?” She looks at me questioningly.

“He thinks we are close enough to know each other’s likes and dislikes.” She scoffs, and the band changes to another song.

“Why do you care, Lachlan? Why do you care where I’m spending my time?”

I don’t like that I care, but I do. It’s obviously why I am here. “You must have forgotten what I said.”

“You’ve said a lot of things, Lachlan. You will have to be more specific,” she mutters, and her fingers twitch in my hold. I bring her hand to my chest and leave it there, putting my other hand on her hip. She slides her hand on my shoulder up further to my neck. Her nails graze my skin, and I swallow the shudder that draws down my spine.

“You should be with me working on our next submission. And don’t you have finals to work on?” I ask. She tilts her chin up at me and narrows her eyes.

“Why do you care about my finals?”

“I don’t, Revna, but I do care when you aren’t helping me with our next submission when you clearly have the time.”

She starts to take a step back and pull away from me. Her head turns as she looks for Ryan. He’s sitting there with a beer at the bar, glaring at both of us, likely just me. Revna sends him a small smile, then turns back to me with a sneer on her face. “We have time, Lachlan. I don’t need to be there right now.”

“Yes, you do,” I grit out.

“Why?” she asks.

“Because Iown you, Revna. Don’t think for a second that I won’t go to Professor Tate and tell her what I know you did.”

She jerks her head back. I have nothing to lose. I won’t be the one who got kicked out; she will. Then, all of her hard work will be for nothing, and she knows it.

Chapter 22