inclai

than had fixed in my hair bounced over my shoulders, my dress hugged my body in all the right places,

the doorframe with t

doesn't thank my father

heat rushed to my cheek

es scanning me slowly, deliberately. "I'm stating facts

my brow. "

his head. "Smart girl.

ou're dragging me to your ex's birthday pa

s the type who hates losing. She dumped me thinking she'd crawl back wheneve

hat do I get in return fo

ievous wink. "And maybe... a tiny crash course in su

ergy was infectious...flirty, coc

*

ty lights reflecting off tinted windows, Ethan in a perfectly tailored suit beside me.

s?" he asked

is my first time walking into some

eassuring way. "Relax, Lil babyyy. All you gotta do is stand besid

s are terrible already

role." he smiled warmly and brush

with champagne, the faint hum of a live band playing something jazzy in the background. And t

entrance, but Ethan pressed a

ainst my ear. "And remember, they

e I heard someone whisper, "Who's she

I sa

eph

t clung to her like second skin. And the look on her face when

over, champagne glass in hand. "Ethan.

an slipped his arm ar

warmly, almost mocking

d, lips twitchin

her gaze, faking confid

turned back to Ethan, her voice sugar-coated

n kissed my temple for good measure. My stomach flip

n. Don't choke on your rebound." And with that, she

idn't realize I'd been

ted, grinning. "And thanks to you

ughter, and Ethan keeping me close, introducing me to his friends, making

es of champagne, Ethan started to slip. His jokes got l

r, glass in hand, eyes half-lidded. "Lil ba

d. "You'r

pretty," he slurr

"Great. J

o hook up with some ass.

ace again. Alone, despite the crowd. Ethan was lost in his drunken

*

iveway, heels clicking on pavement. I tried to c

d of course, I end up stranded. I started walking, hugging myself, whe

My heart pounded as the tin

rves spilling out. "Do you not know how t

. My hands trembled as I

pen your damn eyes instead of sp

whenever I get frus

way!" I

fell on the

eath c

knew the name written o

shock, the words

anything else, it sped off into the night, leavin

n Blac

d been

my knees almost buckled. He'd seen me. Heard

was sure I had just si