Eden

26

I can’t get Dylan’s angry visage out of my mind the rest of the day. Sitting in my room later than evening, I’m sick to my stomach thinking about our encounter. I can’t decide if telling him my role in the fire was really a smart thing to do, especially now that he’s so furious with me.

Why has he continued speaking with Mr. Angelle? What all has he told the man?

Did he tell him about our affair?

My stomach roils at the thought. Shit. This could be bad. This could be really, really bad.

I grab my phone and stare down at the screen, willing Saint to text or call or something. I haven’t heard from him at all today, and I feel this strong urge to tell him what I’ve found out about Dylan and his dad. He might have some insight as to what Mr. Angelle is pla

I’m so lost in my thoughts that I almost don’t hear the knock on my door. By the time I become aware of it, it’s turned into an insistent pounding. My heart leaps at the possibility that it’s Saint, and I jump from my bed and hurry across the room to answer it.

It’s not Saint, though, it’s Loni, and I feel a little shitty that I’m the smallest bit disappointed.

“Hey,” I say, frowning at her look of impatience. “What’s up?”

She releases a deep sigh. “You want to go for a ride with Henry and me? Martha called. She’s at a party, drunk per usual, and wants a ride home.”

I’m so relieved that her irritation isn’t directed toward me, that I immediately reply, “Please. I need to get the hell out of this place.”

I step out into the hall and close my door, and she leads me through the building and out to Henry’s car, grumbling the whole way about Martha being a hot mess. Henry greets me when I slide into the back seat, and then we’re off.

“So, who’s party are we crashing tonight?” I half-tease.

“I’m not sure.” Snorting, Loni piles her hair into a curly bun with the scrunchy around her wrist. “I don’t know why Martha keeps doing this. If she’s going to go out and get shit-faced, she should just prepare herself to pay for an Uber.”

“It probably doesn’t help that you always jump to save her when she calls,” Henry points out, rather boldly I might add.

“I’m not going to leave my drunk, vulnerable friend in the clutches of Angelview fuck-boys!” she cries. “What kind of person do you take me for?”

“I’m just saying.” He shrugs. “When does helping turn to enabling.”

“Oh, just shut up and drive,” she growls, slumping down in her seat.

I stay quiet, figuring it’s better not to offer any of my own input. I lean back and stare out the window, but I don’t pay attention to what we pass by. My mind immediately turns to Saint. Will he be at this party? If he is, then why wasn’t he around all day?

Releasing a tremulous sigh, I realize I’m obsessing over him just a little bit, and I find that fact pretty damn a

Even though I know his reasons behind his actions now, it doesn’t make what he’s done to me any less painful, or my feelings for him any less confusing. I don’t want to want him, but it’s like I have no control over that desire.

I don’t want to feel hurt when he ignores me, but here I am, heart aching and stomach twisting, wondering if he’s changed his mind about me after all.

My anxiety is no calmer by the time we reach the massive house the party’s being held at. Stepping out of the car, I can hear that the party’s in full swing. It’s loud and sounds packed with people. Maybe it’s a good thing we came here. I could lose myself in the crowd and temporarily forget how fucked up my life is for a few hours.

We reach the front door, and Loni doesn’t bother to knock or ring the bell. She opens it without hesitation and we make our way inside.

I come to a sudden stop when I immediately spot Gabe and Liam on the edge of the crowd packed into the home’s spacious living room. If they’re both here, the chances of Saint being here as well are high.

My eyes scan the room, and I spot him over in a corner. He’s chatting up some girl and holding a red plastic cup in his hand. My chest twists and my blood burns with instant jealousy.

I force my gaze away from him and the girl. It’s none of my business. It’s not. I keep telling myself that as I follow Loni and Henry into the party in search of Martha. I don’t get too far before Gabe finds me.

“What are you doing here?” Gabe declares, rushing up to me. Grabbing my shoulders, he lowers his voice to say, “Hey, sorry you didn’t get an invite. I was totally going to let you know about it, but Saint said not to. He didn’t want you to see him like … this.”

“Like what?” I growl. “Drunk and slutty? And this is your house? Doesn’t your dad make his millions preaching to the masses about the hellfire that partying and fornication brings?”

Gabe shrugs and digs his fingers into his messy red hair. “Don’t make it weird, Ellis.”

I shake my head. “It’s whatever. I’m not here for him, anyway. Loni, Henry, and I are just here to find her friend.”

His shoulders sag forward in relief. “Okay, yeah, that’s cool. But really, I am sorry.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

I give him a smile to put him at ease as he hurries away from me, then roll my eyes in exasperation. Looking around, I realize I’ve lost sight of Loni and Henry. Damn it. I no longer have any interest in hanging out at this party and want to get the hell out of here as fast as I can. Unable to help myself, I glance toward Saint again. Two more girls have joined the first to congregate around him. His eyes are glazed and his smile is lazy, a clear sign that he’s drunk or high. Likely both.

I gnash my teeth and try not to let my anger show.

Looking away again, my gaze seeks out a friendly face. I spot Liam again on the far side of the room and start making my way toward him. As I draw closer, however, I see he’s not alone. Rosalind is standing next to him, and they appear to be having a rather focused conversation with each other. By their body language, it almost looks flirty. Rosalind even flips her hair at one point and gives him that dazzling, dreamy look of hers.

I’m a little stu

“Hey! I didn’t know you were here.” She’s more chipper than usual, which is probably a good indication that she’s well on her way to drunk, just like everyone else here.

Liam gives me a friendly, albeit stiff, wave. “I thought Saint told Gabe not to invite you.”

Of course he would find my apparent defiance amusing.

“I’m not here on purpose. Loni is looking for a friend. We’re leaving as soon as we find her.”

“You should stay.” Liam’s obviously a little tipsy but nowhere near as destructively drunk as the last time we ran into each other at a party. “Just steer clear of Saint. He’s being his full, douchebag self this evening.”

Rosalind lightly hits him in the chest. “Don’t be mean, Liam.”

“What? I’m just warning her. Everyone knows he’s an asshole when he gets like this.”

“When is he not an asshole?” I grumble.

“Good point.” Liam tips his beer toward me.

Rosalind glances over my shoulder, and her face suddenly falls.

“Did you need to find Alondra? I can help. Maybe we should go look in the kitchen.”

She rests her hand on my shoulder as if to pull me away, and I scowl. What’s got her so spooked?