“She suits that colour, right, Lu?”
Luciella’s back, staring into the mirror and swiping red lipstick on her lips. “As dark as her cold heart.”
“Fuck you both.”
“Base and Dez are coming out with us tonight and I am not happy.”
Tylar smirks as she looks away, and I try not to giggle. She has no idea how much Base has got under her skin.
I pull on my jeans and top, looking at my phone as it dings.
Kade: Are you going out tonight with Luciella and Tylar?
I peer up at my friends, both now fixing their hair and make-up in the mirror as I type back, my pulse thrashing in my ears.
Me: Why? Does your girlfriend not want to hang out with you anymore?
As soon as I hit send, I regret the petty, jealous and downright childish reply. Why can’t I just ignore him and get on with my holiday?
“Okay. Let’s go!” Lu exclaims, a smile plastered to her face, and when she opens the door, Base and Dez are leaning against the wall, both dressed immaculately. The former looks Lu up and down with a smile that lights up his entire being as she groans and shoulders past him.
She glances at us. “And that leaves tomorrow night to have some girl time before we head back to Scotland. Away from these assholes.”
She definitely said that so he’d hear.
“Sounds like love to me,” Base mutters, and she elbows him in the side.
While I’m in the Uber, I feel my phone vibrate, but I ignore it. In the bar, it burns in my palm, and I itch to read the messages I’m sure are from Kade, but I refrain.
The place is small, not too busy and doesn’t smell. But before I can get a good look around, my gaze lands on a tall, muscled figure at the bar, a tattoo crawling up his neck, dark hair a mess as usual. Kade turns to us, lifting his beer bottle up as his friends head towards him.
I look away and go find the chair furthest from the pool table the boys have chosen, and Tylar orders us drinks. My phone vibrates again, my eyes flickering to Kade as he taps on his screen. Another notification comes through.
Groaning, I give in and check it.
Kade: The fuck are you on about?
Kade: I don’t have a girlfriend. When would I have time for that? You think I’d fuck you when I was with someone else?
Kade: Although, jealousy looks cute on you.
I narrow my eyes at the screen. Muttering a prick under my breath, I type back quickly before my friends see.
Me: Cockiness looks ugly on you. I’m not jealous either. And don’t lie. Dez said you were leaving your girlfriend’s place to meet them. I really don’t care, but don’t come near me again.
Glancing up, I see his thumbs rapidly work his phone, his brows knitted in anger, and I can’t help but feel a little relieved, because somehow, I believe him. I watch him chew on his lip, still typing back to me. When the notification comes through, he looks up at me, and we hold each other’s stare until I feel treacherous heat creeping up my spine.
Kade: I don’t have a fucking girlfriend. I had to lie to them. Once I finish this game, go to the bathroom when I walk out. It’s easier to talk.
Me: Now you want to talk? No thanks.
“Who has you scowling at your phone?” Ty asks, and I quickly turn my screen off.
“No one,” I reply, and her eyes flicker to the boys.
“Is this my drink?” I point to the red cocktail, and when she nods, I take a huge gulp. “Please tell me we aren’t staying here all night.”
Ty and Lu both say the opposite at the same time. Luciella grumbles and drops her face into her hands.
We then talk about what our plans are for when we get home, since Lu is desperate to get away from Base and cutting the trip short. The conversation goes on for hours, and Tylar and Dez stand at the bar multiple times, smiling between themselves. Lu has watched them a few times, but after I mouth to her to stop it, she shrugs and downs a drink Base has bought her.
She doesn’t drink much, so I reckon she’ll be going home soon. Either Aria will pick her up, or I’ll take her, or Base will get an Uber back to the hotel with her like he did last time. He even put her into bed and sat with her until she fell asleep.
Another drink, and Ty and Dez are nowhere to be seen. I’ve given Lu a bottle of water while we sit on a pool table opposite the one Kade and Base are playing at.
I try to ignore him. But I’m struggling, especially when his fingers trail down my spine as I squeeze past him to place my drink on the small table.
Luciella boos her brother’s best friend as he pots one of his balls. “You are shhhhhockingly bad, Sebastian.”
He chuckles, taking a drink of his beer and leaning his hip against the table. “Will you scream my full name when I pin you to the table with my dick?”
Kade nearly chokes on his drink. “Come on, man.”
“I’m going to the bathroom,” I announce and jump off the table.
The place is next to empty, so I can hear the footsteps behind me as I make my way down the small corridor, into the narrow passage that has three doors.
“Stacey.”
My skin buzzes. I stop, taking a deep breath. “What?”
He pulls my elbow. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“I saw your message – I’m aware.”
His blue eyes watch me, and I can tell he wants to say something. Maybe to say it was a mistake.
Because it was.
I cross my arms. “You said you wanted to talk. So talk.”
An older man appears behind us, and we move out of his way – then when someone else walks out, he swears and pulls open the door to the maintenance room and tugs me inside.
As the door closes, we hear the squeal coming from Tylar as Dez pulls out of her – both completely naked with the smell of sex in the air.
I cover my eyes and turn around. “Sorry!”
Kade mutters, “Fuck’s sake. Put your dick away.”
“Why are you guys here?” Ty asks, and I turn around to see them thankfully hidden. She covers her breasts with Dez’s top. “Were you looking for us?”
“I wanted to talk to Stacey,” Kade says. “Can you fuck off?”
“We were here first, asshole!” Dez zips his jeans up and stands in front of Tylar while she fixes herself. “What are you two doing in here? Screwing around again?”
Tylar doesn’t even flinch at the words. And when I stare at her, she gives me a tight smile. Of course she knew. Perfect.
She kisses my cheek as they leave, and Dez – very disgustingly – tosses his condom into a box full of rubbish.
The door closes, and it’s just us two. The force is igniting, but I refuse to let any heat build or think of how well we fit together so intimately – how addictive it is.
“I didn’t mean to vanish right after that happened,” he says, taking a step towards me, hands in his pockets. “I know you think I’m disrespectful and whatever else you’ve thrown my way, but I fully intended to approach you the next day.”
“And what would you have said if you did approach me? Thanks for the quick fuck, snake? Sorry for fucking you while killing someone?”
“Do you want me to apologise for that?”
I gulp. “No. I just want you to leave me alone.”
“Do you?” Another step. “Because I’m a killer?”