Page 44 of Secret Obsession
“Wanna get out of here?” I wiggle my eyebrows at Ronan.
He shakes his head. “Word is, the team is on its way—oh, look.” He gestures. “My cousin, Finch, plays. I told him I’d buy him a drink.”
I force a smile and gesture to the bartender. He nods at me. The hockey team is pouring in with their admirers, and soon they’ll claim his attention. Greyson has Violet tucked under his arm. Steele’s hand is locked on Aspen’s hip. Knox and Miles enter after them, and I glance away.
“Should’ve gone with tequila,” I whisper to myself.
The back of my neck prickles.
My cue to leave.
I slip off the stool, putting my hand on Ronan’s arm to steady myself. Not that he notices. Or maybe he does. The bar is getting too loud. I take my new drink—the bartender really has been keeping me topped up tonight—and toss it back. It slips down my throat like liquid fire, although the burn has long since stopped working. I think my mouth is numb, my teeth floating.
The floor shifts, but I make my way to the bathroom anyway. A quick stop to pee, and then I’ll slip out the back door. Although I had hoped to leave with the football player, because wouldn’t that be fun?
The stall is manageable.
So is the sink.
I eye my reflection.
“Fuck them,” I tell myself. “Have fun.”
Famous words to live by, right?
I practice smiling. Pull my eyes open a little wider with my fingers, although my lids go right back to half-mast when I let go. I wipe the lipstick off my teeth and touch it up, then smile again. And again. I bounce on the balls of my feet.
“Be happy,” I repeat. “I’m so happy. I’m the happiest girl around.”
Iamhappy.
My friends are here. CPU won. I don’t give a shit that Knox scored one of the three goals or that Miles was admirable.
Hewasn’tadmirable.
He’s despicable.
“I’m the life of the party,” I tell myself.
And I know that’s true. My mood brightens, until the smile doesn’t feel so forced. Even if I am still practicing.
I toss the idea of running away and make my way back to the bar. I find Violet easily and rush toward her. I throw my arms around her shoulders and kiss her cheek, leaving a dark-red lip print on her skin.
“Hi!” I squeal. “Congrats, Greyson.”
“Thanks,” he replies. “You good, Reed?”
I haven’t released my best friend, and he’s eyeing my arm around her neck. I ignore his trepidation and focus on her. “I’m great,” I tell her.
“You’re drunk.” She laughs.
I wave my free hand. “Tomato, tomato.”
“You just repeated the same word twice,” Greyson says. “It’s tomayto, tomahto—”
“Oh, whatever.” I snort. “We should do shots.” I spin. “Where’s Aspen?”
I think they might be my only friends. Not that it matters.
