Page 81 of Disobedient Pawn

Even though I knew better, I looked. As soon as I did, her horde of cackling bitches started laughing. I barely restrained myself from tackling her to the ground. I could clearly see it in my mind.

“Don’t think I didn’t see you with your hands all over my man. I warned you what would happen if you went anywhere near Nash.”

If she saw us, she must have noticed that I stood perfectly still with my hands in fists at my side while he did the touching. She’d have to be blind not to have seen that. That she was coming after me instead of Nash showed her insecurity and said so much about their dynamic. I oddly felt sorry for her.

Vicky was snarling at me like a dog, and I sighed.

“You know I’m not the problem here, but if you need to blame me, come at me. Just make sure you’re ready, Vicky. It’s in my nature to be nice, but thinking that is a weakness would be a mistake.”

I held her glare, then turned around, ignoring whatever she said next. It was obvious she would retaliate. The question was how and when.

The house was way over fire code by now, and people blocked the way back to my corner perch. Grumbling, I made a couple of turns and spotted Blake’s back as he leaned against the wall. I walked up behind him and went to tap his shoulder but stopped and held my breath as I heard Lisa speak.

“If you like Ren, why are you flirting with Tiffany,” Lisa scolded.

“Whoa! Who said anything about liking her?”

Stupidly my heart rate picked up, and my stomach tightened into a knot. My hand instinctively ran down the front of the dress he’d given me.

“Then what the hell is going on,” Lisa asked, the question and I wanted to know the answer as well.

“It’s a bet, that’s all.”

“A bet?”

“Yeah, a bet. Me, Nash, and Myles are trying to see who can fuck her before Christmas. The first one to get her into bed wins.”

Pain gripped my chest, and just like that everything made sense—the sweet smiles from Myles, the muffins, the sudden interest in doing better in school. Blake offering to drive me to town and buying me this dress, and of course, Nash’s over-the-top advances. I was being played, but not the way I had thought. I was nothing more than the butt of a massive joke. I should have known.

“Well, everything certainly makes sense now,” I said. Blake jumped and spun around, his eyes wide as his face drained of all color. “Don’t worry. I’ll find my own way home.”

“Oh shit, no, Ren, I’m sorry, I….”

I held up my hand to stop Blake from speaking and suddenly wanted to rip the dress he’d given me off my body. How many people knew? Did they all have money down on how quickly the new girl would give in to the Kings? I’d almost fallen for it. I thought Myles liked me even if Blake was just flirty and Nash was an ass.

“Just leave me alone, Blake. I never asked to come here, and certainly didn’t ask to be your friend or become the school joke. I don’t want to hear anything else you have to say to me.”

Pulling out my phone, to call an Uber, as I spun around, I pushed through the groups of drunken people and saw Myles flirting with a girl. When he spotted me, he leaned down and whispered in her ear. Her eyes glanced my way before she laughed.

The last bit of hope I held that Myles felt something for me flew out the window. It seemed like all the eyes in the room were staring at me. My adrenaline spiked, and tears stung my eyes. They’d always been laughing at me. It was my fault for hoping things would be different here. I’d let my guard down just enough and he almost had me fooled.

I slowed to say something and spotted Axel sitting on the couch. If they wanted to play this game, then so could I. Stomping over to Axel, he stared up at me with bloodshot eyes, obviously drunk.

“Whatever I did, I didn’t do it,” he slurred.

“Are you dating anyone?”

“Um…no. Should I…”

I didn’t wait for him to finish and sat down on his lap. Wrapping my arm around his neck, I kissed him hard. He was a terrible, sloppy kisser and tasted like beer, but I didn’t care. I’d learned some very important things since I arrived. One of those things was group dynamics. Axel’s group and Nash’s didn’t like each other. No, they hated one another. Why? Who knows, and who cares. What mattered now was sending a loud and very clear message.

“What the fuck?” Myles growled from beside me.

He grabbed my arm and dragged me off Axel’s lap.

“What the fuck yourself.”

I jerked my arm out of his hold. The anger was spilling over the edges, but there was hurt underneath as I stared at his stupid face. He’d gotten to me, and I was angrier at myself for letting it happen. My chest ached, and even though I knew he was a jerk, the look in his eyes pulled me in. Earlier tonight, I was so sure he was telling the truth. I was so close to giving him another chance.