Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 162138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Lach’s eyes darkened, his expression harder, but he said nothing as he stared at me. Around us, a couple of people let out a series of oooohs as if this was a fucking rap battle. My narrowed eyes snapped in their direction momentarily. I closed my hand into a fist and set it between his chest, pushing it in slightly as I glared at him again. I wanted to punch him so badly, but violence would get me nowhere, and it wasn’t like I’d hurt him anyway. I let my hand drop.
“Fuck you, Lachlan Duke,” I seethed, barreling my shoulder against him hard as I walked away.
Behind me, a loud, angry growl ripped through the silence. I saw flinches and shocked faces as I walked by, but I kept going. My entire body was shaking. I tried to contain it by balling my fists up and keeping my vision on the open glass double doors of the house. I clenched my fists tighter as anger continued to shoot through me in a way it hadn’t in a very long time, if ever. It felt like the longest walk I’d ever taken, with every pair of eyes glued on me. There were a lot of them. I still hadn’t spotted Marissa. She was probably inside dancing, oblivious to this. That would be the best-case scenario right now. This was a fucking nightmare. I’d almost reached the doors when I heard Lachlan call out my name once. Twice. Three times. I ignored each of them and focused on keeping my angry tears at bay because if I started to cry in front of people, I was really going to hate him.
“Please wait, Lyla.”
“What?” I snapped as I whirled around. “What can you possibly have to say to me?”
“I didn’t do anything with her.” He ran his fingers through his thick hair. “I swear. I know what you saw and what you think, but. . .”
“I know exactly what I saw,” I said, lowering my voice since I was pretty sure I was yelling now, but I wasn’t going to let him gaslight me on top of everything else. “It’s fine. You don’t belong to me.” I blinked at my own words, the truth in them hitting me for the first time and making me realize how stupid all of this was. Lach’s jaw twitched when I said that, but I continued because I needed to end this right now. “We’re not together. We’ve never even. . .it’s fine. You don’t owe me an explanation.”
“I do.” He stepped forward until he was right in front of me. My treacherous heart skipped. “I should’ve pushed her away sooner. I didn’t even know who the fuck was next to me. I wasn’t paying attention to her at all.”
I rolled my eyes but didn’t even bother to entertain that statement.
“I swear, Lyla.” He put his hands up like he was pleading, praying. “I swear.”
“It doesn’t matter. You’re allowed to do whatever you want with whomever you want.” I shrugged. “It still doesn’t excuse your stupid little temper tantrum or acting like you have any right to say who I can and can’t hook up with. You realize how fucked up that is, right? For you to do as you please and expect the opposite of me.” I paused, a growl escaping my lips. I was so angry at myself for entertaining this at all. “You know what? This is fucking stupid. I can’t do this.”
I spun around and continued into the house. Thankfully, no one in there noticed me at all. Between the loud music and the dancing, I was just another partygoer looking for the bathroom. My body was still humming when I finally reached it. I rushed in, slammed the door behind me, and locked it. I did a quick sweep to make sure I was alone and gripped the edge of the sink with my shaky hands as I stared at my reflection.
Even with my makeup, I could see the flush on my cheeks. It had to be the alcohol making me feel this way. I took several deep breaths. I really wished I’d never brought Mandy Roberts into the conversation outside. She had nothing to do with this. Oh my God. We’d just had that argument in front of the entire party. This was scary and mortifying. I hated that I’d let my guard down for him. Most of all, I hated that even now. As I replayed every word he’d said, my stomach was somersaulting like it was participating in the fucking summer Olympics. I moved to the toilet, sat on the toilet lid, and buried my face in my hands. I knew he was outside. I felt his warmth following me through the house as I searched for this bathroom. Maybe if I waited it out, he’d get sick of this and leave.