Page 55 of Vicious Little Snakes

He cages me in with his hands on the arms of the chair I’m seated in, “Care, if you aren’t careful, this whole room, including your prince charming, will realize that you’ve got one major obsession with Liam Brooks.”

“Are you always this annoying?”

I let out a heavy breath.

“The way I see it, you have two choices. Tell the boy you are Sandra Dee, hopelessly in love with him—or numb the pain and have some fun with me. Remember when you used to let me take your mind off of him?”

A hint of a smile graces my lips. Kai and I haven’t touched more than a kiss here and there since that fateful day in the cafeteria. Something about Liam ripping out my heart when he said he chose Donovan made him too hard to put out of my mind, let alone allow Kai inside of me.

“Door number two, please. I’m not in the mood for rejection and embarrassment. Again.”

Kai frowns then winks.

“Open your mouth. I have amends.”

A v forms between my brows, but I do. Kai’s lips descend onto mine, kissing me and mixing our tongues together. My eyes close, realizing what he’s doing, accepting the drugs passed into my mouth with the taste of Kai.

“Open your eyes,” he growls, pulling away.

I do that too.

The music feels like it’s slowing as he brings a small round white pill with a red heart on it to my eyes. It’s affixed to his finger. He places it on his tongue, sealing our fate with another quick kiss before nuzzling my neck and peppering love up to my ear.

“No more thinking. No more wallowing.”

“Okay. Then, what now?”

He tugs me from the chair, eyes gleaming with devious glee. “Now we dance, and fuck and live like gods, Caroline. Because this is your day. Happy Birthday, baby.”

The music fills my ears as he lifts my arms over my head. The bass bumps the entire room as I’m led to the dance floor, willing to forget it all and live in this moment.

Liam

Caroline’s been falling into a different set of arms with each song, Kai in tow, sandwiching her and grinding her ass. And I could break his neck. I hate that the possession I feel towards Caroline never seems to go away—I’ve just become good at pretending I don’t care.

Because she’s none of my business, even if I can’t stop fucking looking. I should be numb to this by now. It’s been our whole existence—her choosing every other guy around, and me watching her do it. But tonight, being in this fucking room and seeing her this way.Fuck these memories.Damn, it’s got me twisted.

I run my hand over my head, cracking my neck, uncomfortable in this suit and my life.

“It’s like a game of musical dicks,” Arden interjects, handing me another shot.

I nod and throw it back.

“Jealous much?” she snarks.

I smack the glass onto the bar and whoosh out a breath, “Nope. I told you I don’t care about her anymore. I didn’t mind rubbing my humiliation in her face earlier, but this”—I motion to the dancefloor—“is none of my fucking business.”

She lifts her finger, calling the bartender. “Mm-hmm, right. Except I’ve only seen your profile since she went out there. You’re ready to break necks, Brooks.”

I turn my face toward Arden, hating that she’s right. When the bartender comes back, she takes the bottle, giving him a wink.

“Liam, I don’t know why you’re acting like you lost.” She huffs. “You won. And she’s crazy about you, no matter who she’s dating. That girl hangs the fucking moon on you. She all but skinned me alive. It was sheer luck that I made it out of that fight in one piece. I mean, look at how she’s acting. Girls only do that shit to torture you guys.”

It’s working.

“I’m not stupid, Arden. I feel the chemistry, but that doesn’t make me the one for her.”

Arden opens her mouth, but I cut her off, “Caroline told me back then. Fuck, she showed me—in this very goddamn room. I took my shot, but she blocked it.”