Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 156392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 782(@200wpm)___ 626(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 782(@200wpm)___ 626(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Ollie gets closer until he’s almost flush against me. His smell, oud and musk, nearly suffocates me, but I put up with it and trace my forefinger over his stubbled cheek, forcing my entire attention to stay on him.
Giving Eli the show he signed up for.
I have no idea why he doesn’t leave me alone when he clearly has no interest in me whatsoever, but I’ll be damned if I don’t play his game.
At least today.
Most of the time, I just avoid him like the plague. What? I’m not always drunk, and when it comes to Eli, my courage—or impulsive foolishness—largely depends on the level of alcohol and drugs pumping in my veins.
I lift my head, but my movements slow when I find his spot at the bar empty. A strange, crushing disappointment crinkles in my chest and I hate it with everything in me.
Worse than I hate that man.
My phone vibrates in my bra and I jolt, then disentangle myself from Ollie to check it out.
Ariella
Call me. It’s an EMERGENCY!
My heart trips over itself as I storm off the dance floor, ignoring Ollie’s and the others' objections as I fly up the stairs to the VIP room I rented tonight. I close the door behind me and pace the length of the tacky space with red faux-leather sofas and black walls.
My younger sister answers in a matter of seconds. “Ava!”
“What…” I swallow. “What’s wrong? Are Mama and Papa okay?”
“They’re fine.”
“Nana and Grandpa?”
“Living their best life on their latest cruise in the Mediterranean Sea.”
“Okay…then what’s the emergency?”
“Figured it was the best way to get you to call me.”
I release a long, tortured breath and lean against the side of the sofa. “Ari, you little shit, you scared the hell out of me.”
“Oh, please. No more than you scared the hell out of us during that competition earlier, then proceeded to ghost us.”
“I didn’t ghost you. Besides, it was…nothing.”
“Only if nothing means literally freezing mid-note for, like, five minutes and then storming off the stage.”
“I had…a block.” Of senses. Of existence.
I literally ceased to be me at that moment.
“And you couldn’t, like, talk to us about it?”
“So you’d pity me?”
“So we’d support you, idiot. Mama and Papa are worried about you. I’m worried about you.”
I bite the corner of my lip. Why the hell do I manage to be like this and concern every single person I love about my mental state?
“We’ll talk tomorrow after I’m past the hangover. Can you tell Mama and Papa that I’m doing okay right now and keeping busy practicing for the next competition?”
“Sure. How much do I get paid for lying?”
“Bitch, please. You love lying.”
“I love getting paid more.” I can imagine her smiling like a little psycho. “How about you tell me Remi’s schedule for the week and we call it even?”
“Ari…you’re my baby sister and I love you, but you need to take a hint when a man isn’t interested in you and move on.”
“Didn’t stop you when you were falling into a puddle at Eli’s uninterested feet.”
I touch my hair and clear my throat. “And I got over him and then some. In fact, I hate He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.”
“As you should, sis.”
“Maybe you can do the same?”
“Nah. Eli is unfeeling and has no trace of any human emotions in him. My Remi is different. He’s lovable, a gentleman, and every woman’s dream man. He just needs a little push to see the love of his life. Aka me.”
I smile despite myself. “You’re not going to give up, are you?”
“Only after my ring is on his finger.”
“Jesus. You’re thinking of marriage at eighteen?”
“I’ve loved him since I was eleven. That’s seven years too late, if you ask me.”
“Oh Lord.”
“Back to the topic at hand, are you going to get me that schedule, Ava?”
“Nope.”
“Is this really worth losing my support when Mama and Papa grill you for actual answers? Think very carefully, sis.”
“Ugh, you’re a little bitch.”
“I take after my beautiful bitch of a sister. Muah ha ha.”
I’m about to call her a few colorful names when I hear the door clicking open behind me. “Give me a sec, Ollie…”
My words trail off when I face the door and get instantly trapped in the depths of those eyes.
Cold. Indifferent. Stormy.
I swallow hard, not caring if my sister hears it. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Only if you have that schedule for me. Byee.”
She hangs up and the sudden click nearly makes me jump in my skin. Though it has nothing to do with Ari and everything to do with the man whose height and broadness block the entire exit.
I straighten, forcing my shoulders back, but it’s categorically impossible to make them relax.
“To what do I owe this displeasure?”
I’m proud of how bored my voice sounds. It took a lot of practice to sound as cold and indifferent as he is.