Beauty In Her Madness (Winterland Tale #3) - Stacey Marie Brown Page 0,37

pushed them off me, my annoyance sparking. “Not sick, but just had a really rough day.”

“Didn’t you have only one class today?” I knew he didn’t mean to sound so demeaning, but tonight Scott was hitting every nerve I had.

“I’m gonna go to bed.”

“What? No,” the room bellowed.

“Babe, stay.” He nuzzled drunkenly into me. “Play with us. You never play with me anymore.” He was right because he was highly competitive, and after a while, it’s no fun. “Hang out for a bit. Have fun.”

Normally I might have given in, but not today.

“It was good seeing you guys.” I backed away from Scott, his hands still pawing at me. “Night.”

“Night,” they all responded as I went to the bedroom.

“Dude, your girlfriend is so out of your league.” Their voices followed me. “Like Beauty and the Nerd.”

“Shut up, man,” Scott grumbled.

“What? Like you don’t see it? Dinah is Victoria’s Secret level. You are beyond a lucky bastard. You better grovel so she doesn’t leave your ass,” David slurred.

“Leave me? Why would she leave me?” Scott’s voice went up.

“You didn’t see her look? Man, you are so in trouble.” Marc chuckled.

“Why?”

“You had friends over without asking. That’s a no-no. She gave you the you’re sleeping on the couch look if I ever saw one,” Marc heckled. “Am I right, Leanne?”

“Yep, sorry. You’re in deep shit,” she replied, laughing.

I hated that I sounded like a wicked witch, always taking the fun out of everything like some bitchy, uptight wife.

I washed my face, staring at a twenty-year-old girl in the mirror who acted eighty.

Was this my life? Day in and day out? What would Scott and I be like when we were actually old?

The sensation of being trapped came over me, one I had never felt before when imagining Scott and me growing old together. Gazing at the face in the reflection, I realized I was starting to not recognize her anymore, the girl who always knew precisely what she wanted. Had a plan and achieved it. Alice always told me I was so determined to confine everything to their rightful boxes, keep things in order, and if something unexpected happened to me, I’d lose it. Every box would come tumbling down, the insides spilling out in chaos.

I was trying so hard to hold everything in place, but I knew it was about to topple down on me.

Chapter 12

It was hours later when Scott came into the bedroom. I knew Leanne was the last guest to leave because sleep did not come, even as exhausted as I was. My mind was restless, and the bed felt like spikes. I tossed and turned, trying to quiet my mind, which only spiraled, adding layers of irritation and grumpiness.

And guilt.

My body couldn’t relax, my core still aching, which triggered more anger.

“Babe,” Scott mumbled, crawling into bed. He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me back into his chest, drunkenly nuzzling my hair. “Love you so much.” His hand tugged at my tank, the other running over my hip as he sloppily kissed my neck.

“Scott…” I tried to pull away, shuddering at his touch instead of desiring it. “Stop.”

“Baby, I’ve missed you,” he whispered into my ear, his hand going under my tank, pawing at my boob roughly, his crotch bumping against me, dry-humping me. “I want you.”

“Scott, stop. I’m not in the mood.”

Liar. Just not for him. An evil voice gnawed at the back of my head, spiking my irritation.

“I can make you be in the mood.” He continued to kiss my neck, his hands roaming over me. Drunk people always thought they were so sexy and seductive. It only worked when the other person was tipsy with you. “I’m horny, baby.”

That word felt like a barb in my skin. It was one pet name I loathed. Baby felt condescending to me. It was what you called a child or pet.

He rubbed into the back of me, muttering things in my ear, his hand pushing into the front of my boy shorts. I grew more and more cross, shoving my elbow back into him.

“I said stop.” I wiggled from his grip.

“What the fuck, Dinah?” Scott sat up, rejection flipping his mood in a flash, which was really unlike him.

“I told you. I’ve had a rough day.”

“Jesus, you sound like an old woman.”

Fury burned around my ears and chest, swiveling me around. I sat up to face him.

“Don’t even go there. There have been many times you brushed me off and told me you had to work