I felt bad. I really did. But my anger with her trumped any guilt at the time. “You’ve got thirty seconds,” I snatched the bag from her fingers because even though I hadn’t done it before, I wanted something to get me through this party. Without something to take the edge off, parties were always sensory overload for me. I knew there would be alcohol, but I didn’t want to be wasted and drive two hours home and knew coke didn’t last as long as other stuff.
“I can always tell Trey that you snuck out.” She threatened likeshe was still a teenager herself.
“And I can tell him about this,” I waved the bag. “Where else could I get them? I’ve been under house arrest for weeks. Besides, you told me you’d share all those years ago. Looks like you’re sharing.”
“I’m not sure I like this version of you, Maddox.” Her lips pulled into a frown,and disappointment swam in her eyes.
“Good thing you gave up the right to like any version of me,” I spat out like an asshole as I climbed in the truck, praying my dad didn’t hear me leave. His office was soundproofed and on the opposite side of the house as the garage and the driveway, but if he heard me, all bets were off.
He didn’t hear me,and two hours later, I was pulling up to some person I didn’t even know on the Island. Fortunately, it didn’t take me long to find a couple of friends. Bryan spotted me before I spotted him.
I wandered around for a while when I spotted her. She was so sexy, but unlike most girls, she didn’t flaunt it. She seemed completely oblivious to her beauty. I watched with envy as Jax kept his arm thrown over her shoulder, laughing. I wondered if they were together, considering the way they were. He moved, she moved. She moved, he moved. It was awkward to watch considering I was there to see if I could get her to go out with me.
When he kissed her head, I rolled my eyes and took off for the bathroom. Coke definitely didn’t last as long as the other things I’d tried, but I liked the effects a lot more.
When I exited the bathroom, they were in my line of sight, and this time Zane was there too with a girl under each arm. I watched with curiosity as the girls flirted with the two guys and Zoey began to drift into the background.
I’m an idiot. A massive glutton for punishment. A fucking masochist.
Because when the girl pulled Jax away, I saw it. I saw the way Zoey watched him sadly, and I saw the guilt in his eyes as he walked away. It was obvious they wanted to be together.
But for whatever reason, they weren’t. That meant I had a chance.
I went to her, rubbing my nose to make sure nothing was left behind,and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around, and those eyes that looked like lightning against the night sky floored me with how sad they were. I was going to turn on the charm, but with the look on her face, I couldn’t do it. “Are you okay?”
A bright smile flashed across her face like she didn’t just watch the guy ditch her for another girl. It was probably a convincing act for most people, but I knew a thing or two about wearing masks. Plus,I could feel her sadness. The emotions of people around me have always affected me, but with Zoey, itwas different. I couldn’t explain it if I tried, but it was like her soul spoke to mine. I’d only felt that with one other person.
“I’m fine. Just enjoying the party,” she waved her drink at me. “I’m Zoey.”
I smiled even though a part of me was sad she didn’t remember me as I did her. Of course, those eyes would make anyone hard to forget. But it wasn’t fair of me to expect her to remember a few moments when we were kids.
“Maddox. Would you like some company, Zoey?”
“Sure.” She jerked her head for me to follow. We walked until we found a semi-private location several feet from the bonfire lit near the water. “I’ve never seen you at any of these things.”
“I’ve been to a few, but I’m not around much.”
“You’re not from here?” I watched as she turned up her cup, fascinated by her delicate throat swallowing the liquid. My mind went to all sorts of places it had no business going because I could tell Zoey was not that kind of girl.
But fuck if I didn’t want to dirty her up.
That was my biggest mistake.
We talked all night about everything,it seemed. She talked about art while I talked about music. She talked about Jax and Zane while I told her all about Ryder, Callie, and Chris. I told her everything. Well, everything that was public knowledge.
“Oh,wait.” She tapped her chin with her finger as her brows dropped between her eyes. “I do know you.”
Part of me hoped she remembered, but I could tell by the tease in her eyes she wasn’t talking about our first encounter. “You’re the bad boy billionaire on the cover of the magazines.”
I flinched. I couldn’t help it. For the first time, I wished I hadn’t been so recognized. I ran my hand through my hair and looked at her bashfully. “Yeah, that’s me,” I chuckled awkwardly. “Except, I’m not a billionaire. That’s my dad.”
“So, you’re as much of a player as my brother and Jax,” she smirks.
I didn’t know what to say. I mean,I couldn’t deny it, and it was a little funny this pint-sized girl was calling me out.
As the night rolled on, she began to yawn and nodded off a couple of times. “Maybe you should find your brother and friend, so you can go home,” I suggested.
“We’re supposed to stay here tonight, but I would kill for my bed right now.”
