Reign A Romance Anthology - Nina Levine Page 0,202

had an early morning flight to Boston to meet up with his dad.

“Um…” There’s a shuffle where I’m certain Ava shoved the phone under the pillow.

“Ava?”

“Ava?” I repeat louder. “I have to go—”

“Milly!” she snarls, catching my attention. “Dad just walked into my room. I hope he didn’t hear you.”

“Don’t say anything,” I remind her again. “Listen, I have to go.”

“Send me pics, okay? I want a full update tomorrow.”

I hang up the phone, quickly getting dressed into a black body-con dress with emerald-green strappy heels, similar to my eye color. With a quick blow dry, I style my hair to the side and clasp on my gold hooped earrings. I was never one to wear too much makeup, opting for a touch of mascara and a light shade of lipstick.

A few hours later, after a great dinner, Joshua’s brother takes us through the back entrance and straight into the dark club, the music blaring around us with people crammed on the dance floor.

“Let’s grab a drink,” Liesel shouts into my ear. “Cosmopolitan?”

I kindly refuse the drink, not wanting to push the limits, given I’m not twenty-one.

“C’mon, Amelia. Just one?”

“How about later? Promise.”

Liesel pouts her lips but doesn’t push any further.

At the bar, I pull out my phone to text Ava, then quickly hop onto Insta to see the first photo on my feed from Austin’s account. It’s a picture of him with some friends, and more notably, a beautiful blonde girl beside him with her arm in his. My stomach is tied in knots, the slump of my shoulder following soon after from the image with the caption Just another Friday night.

Since his text about Thanksgiving, we’ve barely spoken aside from the two-second birthday call this morning followed by a delivery of flowers. It has become idle chit-chat, but slowly, I can feel us drifting apart.

In the corner of my account, I see a notification for a direct message. Opening it up, I glance at the user name and read the message:

Will R: Going to a club when you’re only 19 is stupid. Do you know the danger you’re putting yourself in?

What in the hell? How does he know?

Milly Ed: The same could be said about the number of women you sleep with.

I see the bubble appear before his message appears.

Will R: I’m coming to get you.

I let out an annoying huff, then remember he doesn’t know where I actually am. Without even thinking, I block his username. The week has been bad enough since the night he drove me home. I hate that he has crawled under my skin, and mostly, I hate the way I entertain what it might be like to kiss him when he does this thing at dinner with his lips. It comes out of nowhere, watching his tongue slither on the spoon and my legs tensing at the sight. Between Will and my relationship with Austin, I need that drink.

“You know what? I’ll take that Cosmo now.”

Liesel claps her hands, ordering me one immediately. An hour later and several drinks down, I’ve lost count and find myself on the dance floor. I dance with Liesel and Joshua, then with a group of women I made friends with. A couple of guys try to dance, and I’m happily entertained until one of them tries to wrap his hands around my waist.

I’m just about to politely tell him to back off when I’m yanked in a different direction, almost tripping in my heels.

My chest is up against Will’s, the burn in his eyes piercing me like an animal ready to attack its enemy.

“What are you doing here?”

“It seems that our conversation made me believe you weren’t responsible enough to be at this party.”

“Me? It shows how little you know about me.”

“If you’re so willing to lie to your dad…”

“Why are you so hung up on that? Surely, you have more important things to do than taunt me with matters that are still none of your business!”

I have no idea why he suddenly has to act so macho, and what’s with all my dad talk? It’s been frustrating, to say the least.

“We are going,” he demands, nostrils flaring.

“Let me go!” I tell him. “You’re such an ass, and besides, it’s my birthday.”

“An ass who’ll save your life tonight. And happy birthday.”

“Really, save my life?” I laugh, pointing my finger into his chest. “Are you going to tattle tale to dear old daddy? Or better yet, follow me to my bedroom. How about the shower? You want