Page 9 of The Destruction You Desire

"Okay.” I nod at him, a small smile pulling at my lips.

"I want to get to your blonde friend. She's single right?"

"Jesus. I'm going to regret this, aren't I?"

"You'll never know if you don't hurry."

He leaves me to finish getting ready and when I finally stand in front of the full-length mirror out in the hallway before heading downstairs, I can't deny that I feel better.

The dress is killer and that along with my stilettos and makeup help me; it all feels like a layer of armor that I'm able to hide the truth behind.

"Wow, Peyton," Aunt Fee says, her eyes going wide when I appear in the kitchen doorway a few seconds later.

"Elijah's a lucky guy tonight." She winks at her son.

"Ready?"

"Yes, let's go before I change my mind."

"Have fun, kids. Don't do anything I wouldn't have done."

"We don't want to know what you got up to, Mom," Elijah groans, following me out of the house.

"An Uber?" I ask when I see the car idling at the end of the driveway.

"Yeah, you're already in no state to get behind a wheel and I do not plan on spending tonight sober so…" He gestures to the car, pulling the back door open for me. "My lady," he quips, making me laugh.

By the time we pull up outside the house where tonight's party is, I'm a nervous wreck. My hands are trembling, my palms sweating and despite the fact that I know I have a full stomach thanks to Aunt Fee insisting that I eat as much as I could this afternoon, I still feel like I might be about to pass out again.

"He's probably not even here after the bomb that exploded in his face this afternoon," Elijah says, unable to miss my hesitation to join him out of the car.

I suck in a breath, quietly thank our driver before sliding out.

"What the hell are you doing?" I gasp when his fingers tangle with mine. I immediately try to pull them free.

"You told me that he thinks I'm your boyfriend earlier. So, if he is inside let’s allow him to believe it."

"E, I don't think that's wise," I warn, still trying to free myself.

"You want him to stay away, trust me. There's no better way."

Yeah, or Luca will delight in telling Elijah what a cheating whore I am and spill all our wicked secrets from last weekend.

"It's not a good idea."

"I can handle a college football player, Peyton." He lifts my hand and places a kiss to my knuckles. "You've got this, PeyPey." He winks and I barely contain my eye roll.

Unable to free myself from his grip, I walk alongside him and toward the open front door of the house.

The music booms, the scent of cigarette smoke and weed mixes together as we make our way into the crowded hallway.

"Peyton," I hear someone squeal before Letty races down the stairs so fast I'm sure she's about to faceplant on the floor any second. "Happy Birthday," she cries, slamming into me and throwing her arms around my body. Finally, I lose Elijah's grip allowing me to hug her back.

"T-thank you."

"Ignore her, she's already wasted," a deep rumbling voice says. When I look up, I find Kane watching his girl with an amused yet satisfied smirk on his lips.

"You're aware you're wearing her lipstick, right?" I ask him, unable to keep the smile from my lips.