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and-in-hand with Jax, dreaming of our future. Now, the future was here, vibrant and loud, but utterly devoid of him. I moved through the crowd, a ghost in my own past, t

ing me from the sight. "Kylie, are you okay?" Maya asked, squeezi

I still can't believe he sided with her after the fir

ile playing on my lips. "It's ov

ged with nostalgia. "Remember that time at junior prom? You

starting the restaurant together," Maya piped in, a wis

chest. "He was," I agreed, my voice flat. "But people

htly, a subtle challenge. Cinda, noticing his attention had shifted, leaned in, whispering something in his e

rying to provoke me, to elicit a reaction, to prove he still had control. But he didn't. Not anymore. I simply turned away, engaging

ght a glimpse of his reflection in a nearby window. His jaw was tight, his eyes

into a circle of their mutual friends. He seemed to hesitate for a

of Truth or Dare. The energy shifted, lightened. I found myself al

boomed. Cinda, preening, spun the bot

ing with mischief. She loved to be the center of

rson in this room!" The crowd cheered, a r

ed directly towards me, her smile wide and malicious. I felt an ice-cold dread

eyes wide with mock innocence. "Since you're so clearly still obsessed with Jax, and he's my boyfriend now, I'm just going t

not give her the satisfaction of a struggle. I looked past her, searching for Jax, a desperate, foolish pa

ly steady. "I don't mind. He's all yours anyway." The words,

s at his sides. He looked from me to Cinda, a storm brewing in his gaze. He wasn't expecting my indiffer

d on by the crowd's expectant murmurs, she leaned in, her lips brushing mine i

yanking her away from me. He slammed his lips against hers, a brutal, possessive kiss meant to send a message. He held her f

led, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear, his arm wrapped tightly around Cinda' s waist. "This is wha