“What?” The word barely leaves him.
“That Halloween party last year—the one you dragged me to when I came to visit Miami?”
He stares at me like I slapped him.
“That’s when I met Jace. He was wearing a mask,” I continue, my voice gaining strength. “We started texting after that night. We’ve been talking every single day, Dom. Every night. I knew him long before I knew who he was to you.”
He reels back like he’s been shot in the chest.
“You’re fucking kidding me.” He laughs bitterly, raking his hands through his hair.
His laugh doesn’t sound right. It bursts out of him like a crack in the foundation—sharp and echoing through the entryway. Not amused—deranged.
He spins around, pacing like he’s trying to outrun the words I just said.
Then he turns, eyes wide and blazing, and points at me.
“You?!”
“Dom…”
He cuts me off with another bitter laugh.
“The girl from the party.” His voice drops. “The girl from the fucking party.”
He shakes his head like he’s trying to reboot his entire brain.
“So you’re Bunny, huh?” His eyes pierce through me, and my heart drops.
“How did you…”
“Because he wouldn’t fucking shut up about it.” The words are a hiss now.
He looks like he’s unraveling right in front of me.
“Jesus Christ.” He starts pacing again.
“Has he fucked you?” He turns to me sharply, and I flinch at his words.
“That’s none of your business,” I say, trying to keep my voice even. “And it’s the last thing you should be asking me right now, Dominic.”
“And what should I be asking you, Melody?”
“You should be asking me how I feel.” I take a step forward. “Instead, you’re making this about you.”
“Listen to me, Melody.” His voice softens, almost unnoticeably. “I don’t give a shit how long you’ve been texting him. You can’t expect to get apples from a rotten tree.”
“Jace is not a rotten tree,” I snap, my voice rising. “And I’m not twelve!”
“You’re my little sister,” he shouts back. “And he’s a man who knows exactly how to get what he wants.”
“I don’t know Jace like you do,” I say, shaking my head. “But you also don’t know him like I do. You haven’t seen what I’ve seen.”
“Melody, if I tell you what I’ve seen Jace do, you’ll go check yourself for STDs at the nearest fucking clinic.”
“This conversation is extremely childish. You’re being childish, Dom.” I fold my arms across my chest. “You’re talking about Jace like you haven’t been doing the same since you moved here.”
“Not at his rate, I haven’t,” he scoffs, then turns around. “I need time to think,” he mutters, quieter this time.
