Stupid Andie and her stupid committed boyfriend who can’t leave her alone for five minutes. When I texted our group chat, I envisioned the girls meeting me here and commiserating with me about my terrible luck. Sure, I knew they’d be shocked—I might have even expected a little rage from Ronnie—but more than anything, I expected sympathy, a shared drink, and maybe a hug. I wasn’t thinking I’d already have to play the part Damian has cast me in, and I certainly didn’t think I would need a cover story prepared so soon. I’ve barely had time to process how the fuck this all even happened, let alone had a chance to figure out what I would actually tell people.
And thanks to this little interaction, I’m excruciatingly aware I am already doing an abysmal job of selling it.
I’m suddenly regretting running away from Touro Park like I did. If I had stuck around just a few minutes longer, the fuckboy and I could have worked out these details.
Ronnie recovers, jolting in her seat, like someone just hit her reset button. With a toss of her hair, she glances at Eli, but not before her eyes dart to mine. Not for long—just for a split second—but it’s long enough for me to notice the devious glint in their depths.
Oh no.
“No, go on,” she urges, her voice a gentle coo. “What were you going to say?” She waves a hand, gesturing for Eli to continue.
“What are you doing?” I hiss under my breath, but she just flashes me a saccharine smile.
There it is. I see it clearly now underneath that angelic exterior: the anger and sheer disbelief that I could ever be so fucking stupid.
She’s not wrong, but also…what other choice did I have?
I scowl at the side of her face, silently cursing the day she was born. I then immediately take it back—because, as savage as she can be, I love her to death—and choose instead to envy her good luck and the circumstances that have meant she’s never had to resort to such awful decisions.
Eli’s eyes dance between Ronnie and me, studying us like someone observes a dangerous bear in the woods, unsure whether to flee or stay still. He’s probably wishing he had gotten out when he still had the chance. Beside him, Andie is wide-eyed, watching the drama unfold. Despite her sweet looks, she is ravenous for it. All she needs now is some popcorn.
“You were saying, Eli?” Ronnie prompts again.
Although I asked, the truth is, I know what she’s doing. She’s hoping to prove a point. And that point is more than proven when Eli clears his throat and says, “I’m not trying to rehash shit or anything, it’s just…I thought there was a not-so-great history there. You know, with that video last spring.”
Another sigh slips past my lips. It would be fantastic if just one person around here didn’t know about Damian’s stupid bet.
Ronnie shifts in her seat to face me. “He makes a fair point. Your rebuttal, Miss Dornan?”
Hey, brain, you know my genius IQ? It would be awesome if you could use it to give me a logical excuse as to why any sane individual would date Damian Navarro, so I can shut this shit downnow.
I glare at her. “What do you want me to say?”
The left side of her mouth quirks at the corner. “Nothing. Your silence says it all.” She clicks her tongue and then swings her gaze back to Eli. “To answer your question, Elijah, Damianis a very giving lover, and his dick is apparently magical.” The disgust in her voice is as clear and sharp as glass. “I mean, itmustbe for Lexi to forget how he publicly embarrassed her.”
“I haven’t forgotten,” I fire back.
She taps a fingertip to her bottom lip. “Is that disdain I sense in your tone? An odd emotion to feel for one’slover.”
“Ew. First off, don’t ever say lover around me again. And second, he’s…sorry,” I finish lamely.
Ronnie lifts one pert brow. “Convincing.”
“This feels like something you need to work out amongst yourselves, so I’m gonna go,” Eli interjects, sliding out of the booth. “Ronnie, always a pleasure. Lexi…congrats?”
“Thanks,” I mumble, wondering where the hell my next drink is.
“As for you…” Eli leans down and pecks Andie on the cheek. “I’ll see you tonight?”
Her face burns cherry red, and she grins. “Yup. I’ll call you when we’re done.”
With one more uncertain glance between me and Ronnie, Eli backs away slowly, then turns and practically runs from the bar like a criminal fleeing a crime scene. To be fair, it may soon turn into one.
“What’s tonight?” I ask, desperate to escape Ronnie’s wrath for just a few moments longer now that we’re alone, and the mask of deception can finally come off. Not that I wore it very well to begin with.
A manicured finger wags wildly in my face. “Don’t change the subject!” she scolds.
I slap her hand away. “I’m sorry you had to grow up with this,” I say over her shoulder to Andie.
