Page 129 of Fuckboy Psychos (Scarlett Force 1)
“Yeah, what the hell is that about?” I ask, lifting my glass in her direction with a tattooed hand. I know what I look like tonight: intimidating as hell. My hair is wavy and glossy, hanging in a thick raven sheet down my back, a frame for my curvy body and flawless skin, my little black dress, my fabulously outrageous shoes with the embroidered rose and vine detail on the heels. “I mean, I guess I could understand why you wouldn’t want me here, but Basti? Come on, Lem. He’s heartbroken.”
She doesn’t even have the guts to look chagrined the way she should.
How dare she hurt Bastian the way she did? Me, I understand. I’m a lot to deal with and I very freely call her out on her shit. But Basti? Poor Basti.
“I didn’t invite Bastian because I knew that you’d probably come as his plus-one or something. But, like, seriously, how are you even here right now?”
I let my lips twist into a crooked smile.
“Scarlett is my date,” Alexei offers, jumping in when he certainly doesn’t have to. I don’t need to be defended by anyone, but I enjoy a bit of chivalry, too. Oh, I think I might be getting a crush on this guy and his highborn face. He lifts his chin up and tilts his head slightly to one side as Aspen meets his eyes and smirks in response.
“Couldn’t stay away from that cheap Prescott pussy, eh?” Aspen murmurs, just loudly enough that only the four of us can hear. Based on Pavel’s reaction, I’m almost certain that he doesn’t.
“She’s a beauty, isn’t she, Aspen?” Pavel asks, barely keeping up with the conversation, drunk as he is. He sloshes his drink on the floor again as he gestures at me, and I stand there with my fingers squeezing the thin, delicate stem of the champagne flute.
Cheap Prescott pussy.
My temper threatens to get the better of me, and I do my best to drown it with the champagne, chugging the entire glass in a single gulp. Fuck, I want to kill him. I want to kill him and exonerate myself.
How fucking dare he reduce what happened between us to something so … trashy? So sleazy? His eyes find mine, glimmering like an oil slick, and he sweeps them over my body with a crude run of his tongue across his lower lip. Lem notices and makes this small sound of protest that Aspen ignores entirely.
Mad as I am at Lem, stupid as I think she is, I can’t handle watching him treat my friend like that.
“Oh, I’m not sure ‘beautiful’ is the right word,” Aspen cajoles, smiling in such a way that the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. “Fuckable, surely. Big tits on display, a mouth built for cocks, a dress that’s easily lifted up for a quick—”
It’s a mistake. I know that before I even do it, snatching Pavel’s drink from his hand and chucking the contents into Aspen's face. Lemon lets out a small shriek, but I swear to God, in that split-second, I see Alexei smiling. I hand the empty glass back to a very confused Pavel, so I can free my right hand.
I throw a hard punch that clocks Aspen directly in the throat. He goes stumbling back, clutching at his neck and choking. Best place to hit someone without drawing blood. Pretty brilliant, right? Also, it fucking hurts. He wraps his fingers around his throat and lifts those dark eyes up to mine. There’s nothing but rage and hatred burning there, no sign that we had any connection whatsoever.
“Cheap-ass whore,” Aspen croaks out, and then he’s coming at me, but before I can retaliate further, Alexei steps in between us. He grabs Aspen’s wrist in one of his gloved hands and halts what I think was intended to be a violent backhand across my face.
Not that I would’ve let Aspen hit me, but oh.
Hello Alexei Grove.
“You’re ruining my party!” Lemon cries at me, grabbing onto Aspen. He tenses up and scowls at me, but he doesn’t throw her off. Only because so many people are watching, I believe.
“Oh no! He choked on his champagne!” I gasp, overacting like crazy and not caring. Pavel blinks his green eyes confusedly, looking between me and Aspen, and then, because he’s drunk as hell and also a really nice guy, he backs me up.
“Get the boy a napkin and some water,” he bellows, and people rush to obey. I get the idea that Alexei and his father are sort of big deals around here. Bigger than the Kellys maybe? Or just richer? I’m not quite sure, but when Alexei deigns to release Aspen from his grip, the latter scowls and clutches his arm against his chest.
But he doesn’t make any other moves to come for me. That, and he doesn’t throw us out the way I thought he would.
