Maya was Hayden’s latest fling, or they were a thing, but who knew for sure? All I knew was that they could be seen together during lunch or breaks these last few weeks, and they didn’t hide their mutual attraction.
“And what would you want us to wear? Negligé?” Melissa asked Steven.
He snorted. “Something decent, Mel, not sexy. I don’t want any douchebags drooling over my sister. Now—” He reached for Jess and me and led us to the bar. “What would you like to drink, girls?”
Unease clawed its way through me because he was touching me like this. I tried to pull my hand out of his, but he didn’t let me. He literally sat me down on the bar stool.
“Nothing. We’re leaving,” I replied and got up to leave, but Drake’s look-alike stopped in front of me and pushed me back down.
“Why do you want to leave so soon? Stay and have some fun with us.”
I didn’t want to have “fun” with them. I didn’t like it here, and if Mateo knew what I’d gotten myself into, he definitely wouldn’t like it either. Besides, being in the same room as Hayden, who wasn’t even paying attention to me, was suffocating.
“No,” I answered him, refusing someone outright for the first time. In the past, I’d always remained silent and compliant, instead of voicing how I truly felt. I followed Jonathan’s advice at last and said “no” directly.
He would definitely give me a thumbs-up if he could see me. Or he would just roll his eyes and say something in his usual grumpy manner.
A college guy with curly hair sat next to Jessica, his gaze glued to the ice cream print on her chest. “Mmm, I’d like to lick the ice cream off your chest.”
I whipped my head toward him and my jaw dropped. Jessica blushed and twisted her hands in her lap, her gaze downcast.
Mel approached him with a sneer. “Tell me you didn’t just say that.”
He raised his hands up and smiled, trying to look innocent. “I mean, I wanna eat some ice cream. The one in that picture looks delicious.”
Blake got up from the couch, ditching the brunette wordlessly, and sat next to the college guy. Masen joined him and leaned against the bar to pour whiskey into his glass.
“Do you even have eyes, man?” Blake asked the curly-haired guy. He took a can of beer from the bar fridge and opened it. “She’s a whale. Unless you like them big.” He smirked and took a huge swallow of his beer, holding his stare. Jess whimpered in shame. What a jerk.
The college guy raised his eyebrow. “Do you like them big?”
Blake grinned. “I’m for big boobs and ass anytime.” His smile dropped in an instant, and his eyes narrowed maliciously at Jessica. “Except when they’re attached to a whale. That ice cream is the only thing that looks good on her.”
Jess pressed her wobbly lips together and her eyes filled with tears.
“Do you know what would look good on you?” Melissa hissed in his face. “One big, fat bruise all over your face. I can make it happen.”
Steven pulled her away from Blake and made her sit on the bar stool next to me. “Sit down, sis, and stop harassing my friends. If you’re not able to be civilized, leave.”
“Your friends are the ones who aren’t civilized here. And we’ll leave.”
“Oh come on. Stay a little longer,” Drake’s double whined, wearing a puppy face.
“Yeah. One drink won’t kill you,” the college guy said.
“Right,” Steven agreed and handed whiskey to the guys. He tried to give it to me too, but I refused, and got up from the barstool again. Jess and Mel could stay if they wanted to, but I was leaving. I was going to sleep. Mateo had probably texted me and was wondering why I hadn’t answered him yet.
I looked at Hayden again, half-expecting the “old” him to come out and say he didn’t want me here so he would personally make me leave, but he didn’t even look at me. His eyes were fixed on Drake’s look-alike, who was now in front of me, preventing me from going further.
“Come on, bunny girl,” he drawled, referring to my pajamas, and pushed his drink at my chest. I almost groaned at the stupid nickname. “You’re Sarah, right? I’m Tyler.”
He held his drink awkwardly between us, waiting for me to take it, and my tension mounted. I just wanted to get some personal space.
“Take this drink and—” He was cut off when Hayden passed next to us and hit Tyler’s shoulder with his, spilling Tyler’s drink all over his face and chest. The guys nearest to us laughed, amused by the sight of Tyler covered in alcohol. Hayden didn’t even turn around or say a word but continued to walk toward the door.
“Hey, Black! What was that for?” Tyler shouted after him.
“I’m out of here,” Hayden muttered and left, ignoring Tyler’s question.
Astounded, I brought my gaze back to Tyler who looked pissed off. I needed only a few seconds to make a decision. I bolted from the barstool and ran after Hayden. He was half-way to the front door when I reached him in the hallway.
“Hayden, wait!” He didn’t stop. “Please, wait!” He halted with his back to me.
The music coming from the entertainment room was a dull, distant pounding in the otherwise quiet house. I studied his tall, dark form in the unlit hallway. My chest ached as unusual longing flooded me. He was dressed in a black leather jacket and dark jeans that accentuated his sexy backside and muscular legs, and I felt a rush of attraction toward him.
“Please, look at me.”
“Go back,” he snarled, speaking to me for the first time in a long time. My heart beat so fast in anticipation that it hurt.
He moved but stopped again when I said, “Thank you for helping me.”
He clenched his fists. “I didn’t fucking help you, slut. Go back and fuck with all of them since you can’t wait to spread your legs.”
Numbness washed over me. I refused to believe such cruel and unfair words had easily slipped out of his mouth. Was that him or his BPD talking?
“Hayden, stop throwing baseless insults at me. I was uncomfortable, and I wanted to leave. You saw it yourself.”
“The only thing I saw was you leading on those guys, especially the way you’re dressed. What? Your boyfriend isn’t enough for you? You want to try a new cock?”
I stared at his back in dismay, knowing I shouldn’t let him provoke me, but it was getting to me. “I’m a virgin, Hayden! And I’m not a cheater!” I hated that I was justifying myself to him. Look at me! “Don’t pretend you know everything about me! I don’t want their attention. I hate it—”
“Stop talking. Do you know why I can’t stand to be near you anymore?” He interrupted me, but he still didn’t turn to me. “It’s because I want to crush you more than ever, but I can’t because you saved my life. If my fucking patience, which is now wearing very thin, snaps, I’ll hurt you for all pain you’ve caused me since that day. So you better shut your mouth and stay the fuck away from me.”
He marched out of the house and slammed the door behind him, and I just stood there, unable to calm down my erratic breathing as feelings of dejection and confusion veiled my whole being.