ASIA'

s, a sticky throng warmed by cheap perfume and spilt drinks. I still didn't know why he'd dragged me here only to abandon me. Isaac was e

idiculous. He wasn't looking at me. He was looking at them. God, I had been

orget him, but forgetting didn't come easy when every laugh and tilt of his head tugged at something ra

ind my shoulder and I jer

him, cataloguing the dark jacket and smile. I remembere

a small, surprised

"Yeah. You

e he introduced me to

his head

t I wouldn't mind if you'd drink with me." I tucked

ippery floor. I could feel a presence at the other end of the room, though. Those green eyes were glued to me, but they were not my problem, I told myself. He'd brou

ding toward the back of t

lf-laughing. " I-I have a

e could catch up?" He smiled, and

r, more playful than I felt. The drink

An arm wrapped around his wrist. I glanced sideways. Isaac

ugh," he sa

to hang," Jake laughed, but m

ked at me

turned back to Jake. "She doesn't.

's just your cousin. She c

this," I protested, but my voice wav

e. Believe me, those gazes were

snapped, and almost immediately, Isaac's fist found his cheek. He punche

's enough!"

s. This was so embarrassing. My head cleared in an ins

hot and furious and then, before I could registe

and the world narrowed to a single room and

y would you bring me to a party like this and then leave me alone while you..." My words tumbled out faster than I meant. "

a hint of dangerous amusement that flickered behind his eyes. "You can't

What's wrong with that? You had all t

sounded i

p them. "Sit here and watch you kiss or fuck those girls? I shouldn't even b

ike a thick curta

t's pathetic." He laughed and they sounded like a brittle thing. "What

ght. My chest heaved. The room tilted.

mile that didn't reach his eyes tugged at one side of his mouth. Like we b

parents, for my mom. But not for me, Snow. Those looks they give you away. I can t

de something inside m