is Knox's best friend, and while there's no bad blood between him and me, we're not exactly friends either. Therefore, he has no loyalty here, and nothing against pissing me off.
I'm leaning against the outside bar, watching as Zayn flirts with Lennon. Judging by the way she keeps looking over at me, I know it's only to get under my skin, but it's fucking working. I should be enjoying this party. It's my goddamn party. And instead, my eyes stay locked on the one girl here I should want nothing to do with.
“Uh, Cade?” Jayden says hesitantly. “Some guy is drawing on the portrait above the fireplace.”
Now that makes me laugh. “Is he really?”
“Yeah. Should we stop him?”
I'd prefer if they didn't. Vandalizing anything to do with Kensington Bradwell is a go in my book, but I can definitely use this to my advantage.
“Nah,” I reply. “Go tell Lennon. She'll take care of it.”
He looks over at where Lennon stands with Tessa and Zayn, with Zayn's arm around her. “Ah fuck, okay.”
It plays out exactly as I expected. Jayden goes over to Lennon and the second he tells her what's going on, she glares at me and storms inside. Tessa follows behind, but Zayn looks at me. I nod my head toward the other side of the yard, and he starts walking over there.
The two of us meet up in the corner, away from prying eyes. He pulls out a blunt and lights it.
“Cade, right?”
“Yeah. We've met a few times, through Knox.”
He inhales a long drag and holds it for a second. “That's right. Sorry, college makes it so faces all kinda blur together. What's up, man?”
“Not too much. Moved in here recently.” I shake my head as he offers to share.
“Ah, yeah. Lennon was saying something about that.”
“You and her. You look close,” I point out the obvious. “Are you two together?”
He chuckles. “Playing coy ain't your forte, Mr. Cade.”
Fuck. “Just answer the question, dick.”
“Down, boy.” He raises his hands up in mock defense. “Nah, she and I are both just friends with Tess. Why? She off limits?”
“Are you and I close enough to make someone off limits?”
Zayn takes another hit of his blunt. “I like to avoid drama as much as possible, so if you say she's spoken for, I'll back off. And besides, Knox seems to think you're all right, and I trust his judgment.”
Now that I can respect. “Thanks, man.”
“No problem, but just keep in mind…” He nods behind me to Tessa coming our way. “The two of them together are fire. If they want you burned, they'll make it happen.”
Tessa smirks as she approaches the two of us. “And what are you two talking about?”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Oh, just your little plan of using Zayn to get a rise out of me.”
She giggles and takes the blunt from Zayn. “Don't get pissy at me because it worked.”
“Whatever.” I look around for Lennon but don't find her. “Where's your other half?”
Tess's brows furrow. “Uh, Rhode Island?”
“Not that other half.” I groan. “Where's Lennon?”
“Oh.” She glances back at the house. “She went to her room for something, though I honestly think she went to look for you.”
The thought of someone else getting their hands on her makes my blood turn to lava. That, mixed with the alcohol running through my body, has me ready to snap someone's neck just for looking at her too long. I walk away from Zayn and Tessa, completely ignoring the commentary from Tess.
It takes a few minutes to get from the back door to the staircase, but I don't see Lennon in any of the rooms downstairs. Maybe she really did go to her room.
I climb up the stairs and turn down the hallway when I see her. She's frozen outside my room, staring at something with wonder in her eyes. As I get closer, I see what she's looking at. Bryce is on my bed, fucking some girl, and Lennon is watching it happen.
The sight of her looking so turned on while she stares at them like a deer in the headlights—it does something to me that I can’t explain. Pressing myself up against her back, I firmly grip her shoulders to keep her in place. She squirms against my hold, but I'm stronger than she is.
“You like that, don't you?” I murmur against her ear. “The way he slams his dick in her pussy.”
“Let me go,” she demands.
I push her against the doorway and grab a fist