the devil X?”
True. I didn’t see him for the entire day.
I’m surprised Ronan is just noticing that, though.
“He’s on a family trip for his father’s work,” Kim says with a low tone before she meets my gaze as if she’s caught off guard. “What? He lives across the street, remember? Besides, our parents are friends and the little shit Kir wouldn’t shut up about him. It’s not like I have a choice in any of this.”
“How come I don’t know about that?” Ronan taps his chest. “This shit is bad for my abandonment issues.”
“Do you even check our group chat?” Cole asks.
“Group chat?” Ronan furrows his brows. “Oh, that. Mais, bien sure. I totally know about it.”
“Right.” Cole faces me. “You can go now.”
“Thanks for helping out,” I tell him and Ronan.
“Hey, anything to get a reaction out of King.” Ronan waggles his eyebrows.
“And to teach him a lesson,” Cole adds.
“Now, drink.” Ronan shoves a tequila shot between my fingers. “Ahh, I love ruining the youth.”
With one last deep breath, I chug it in one go. Then another one.
The burning taste brings nausea. I shake my head at the strength of it. Ronan’s phone flashes as he takes pictures from the side.
If I could help it, I wouldn’t have drank, but it’s the only way to make the act believable.
I wave at the guys and leave, weaving through the bodies. Silver’s minions, Veronica and Summer laugh at my face as I pass them by.
“Ex whore,” Veronica snarls.
I flip her the middle finger and continue on my way. They won’t get to me. Not them and not their bitch queen.
But you’re doing all of this because she’s getting to you.
I shut that small voice up as the night’s fresh air hits me. The wind whips my ponytail in front of my face.
I inhale deeply and open the passenger door of Knox’s black Range before slipping inside.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Yeah,” I smile. “Thanks for being my ride. I had a bit of a drink and Kim doesn’t want to leave yet.”
“I’m happy to.” He shakes his head, suppressing a smile.
“What?”
He motions at my face.
I cradle my cheeks, massaging the skin. “There’s something on my face?”
Knox reaches over and plucks a hair from my mouth and tucks it behind my ear. “There.”
“Thanks.” My head hits the back of the seat as nausea threatens to take me over again. “Sorry. I’m not used to drinking.”
“You don’t have to apologise to me.” He weaves through the streets with an easy-grip on the steering wheel. “You know, you can call me even if you don’t need a ride. You’re not with King anymore, right?”
“I was never with him.”
I groan inwardly at the slight slur at the end of my speech.
Good job in being a mess, Elsa.
“That’s… smart.”
My attention snaps back to Knox. Was that a smirk in his words or am I imagining things?
It’s probably the alcohol.
The taste of nausea lingers at the back of my throat, threatening me with vomit.
It’s definitely the alcohol.
Knox and I talk about Cambridge. Like me, his father has great expectations for him.
The more Knox talks about his father, the more it reminds me of Aunt and Uncle.
“Thanks again,” I tell him as he stops in front of my house. “You keep showing up for me when I need you since we met.”
“I’m happy to be of service, my lady,” he says in a Shakespearian tone and even kisses the back of my hand.
I giggle as I stand in front of his car and fake a curtsy. “Night, good sir.”
It takes me two tries to tap in the code of our house.
This is totally the last time I drink.
I freeze at the entrance.
Aunt stands there as if she’s been waiting for me.
Shit. I need to leave before she smells the alcohol on me.
If I knew she’d be here, I would’ve never taken the damn shot.
“A-Aunt? Weren’t you supposed to work tonight?”
“I can’t leave you alone all the time or I’ll die from concern.” She takes my backpack. “Was that Knox just now?”
“Uh, yeah. He picked me up because Kim couldn’t.”
Contemplation covers her features. “Does that mean King is no more?”
“Knox and I aren’t like that.”
“Well, if you have to choose, my vote goes for him.”
I study her for a bit. “Why have you never liked Aiden, Aunt?”
She freezes with the backpack in her hand before she forces a smile, and I know, I just know that there’s something she’s not telling me. “I feel like he’s taking you away. You haven’t