I hesitate, torn. Before I can decide whether to bail on the girls or make the guys wait, Carmen Catalano is in my face, Viktor sprawled insolently behind her, with Naomi avoiding my eyes on the couch beside him.
“I hear Gale finally got what he wanted,” Carmen says. “Too bad he had to fuck you first, but I guess young pussy is better than old pussy if you’re going to whore yourself out.”
I step back from her, blood rushing to the surface of my skin in a hot wave.
“What are you talking about?” I hate the way it comes out, weak and confused.
“Celeste told Viktor’s dad that your mommy called and threatened to pull you out of school if Gale left. Since you’re both still here, I guess it worked. Must be nice to have famous parents pulling the strings for you.”
“Can’t believe it took him the whole term, though.” Viktor smirks. “His dick must be losing its touch.”
“He always was kind of a selfish asshole in bed.” Carmen’s eyes are vicious. “Maybe that’s why she needs two dicks to get the job done.”
“Well, he did say he could get what he wanted without fucking her at all. Maybe he tried to hold out and got desperate.”
“He said what?” I hiss.
“You remember the first day you waltzed in here with Lyot Chace? Gale told us all to stay away from you, but he definitely wasn’t talking about being your boyfriend.”
I turn to Naomi, who’s been suspiciously silent.
“You were there that day. What the fuck are they talking about? What exactly did Gale say?”
“Pretty much what they told you.” She sighs like it hurts her to admit it, and I can’t tell if it’s an act. “He did warn us all to stay away from you, like he was staking some kind of claim. We all assumed he meant sex. I mean, he has a reputation. But then Viktor told him you didn’t fuck around with circus guys.” Something pained flashes in her expression, and I know she’s thinking of Lyot, but I have even less fucks to give than usual onthat score. “And he said, ‘I don’t need to fuck her to get what I want.’”
Her eyes are apologetic, but she’s the only one. The others are a pair of avid vultures, transporting me back to thirteen, when the girls get mean and start tearing into anyone who has something they want. “But that’s all he said,” she continues. “It could’ve meant anything. He obviously wanted you in his showcase piece. He never said anything about your parents.”
“Why would he have wanted her in his act if not to get close to her parents?” Carmen asks. “He could have had Taylor or Dara. Oranyone.” Jealousy radiates from her grip on her too-short skirt and the toss of her perfect Barbie doll ponytail, and I want to believe that’s all this is, but my age-old insecurities are dragging me under.
Why didn’t he tell me as soon as my dad talked to him?He’s known for hours what my mom did, and he didn’t even send a text. Did he tell Lyot? The ache of betrayal sinks its claws into my chest.
“You really didn’t know?” Carmen asks, dripping false surprise, and the light of triumph in her eyes reminds me of my mom’s smile when she told me about Celeste. All I want to do is strike back and slash the look off her face with poisonous claws.
“Do you really think I care?” I lie, as if my heart isn’t bursting into flames. “I’m fucking the two hottest guys in school. The ones you two want but can’t have.And Carmen? If you could hear the things Gale says when he’s inside me? You’d know he’s not thinking about my parents.” I walk away with my head held high, wondering if I’ll ever let his dirty mouth near me again. Hoping he’ll use it to tell me it’s all a stupid lie. Wanting to hate him and hopelessly afraid I might love him instead.
I find the guys in the studio, as promised. For once, the sight of them shirtless and stupidly sexy in their slim joggers doesn’t make my heart pound. Maybe because it’s already beating fast enough to burst through my ribcage. Gale has both forearms wrapped in the straps and is leaning on them, murmuring something that has Lyot shaking his head with a laugh. Two heads turn as I step through the door, and Lyot breaks away, coming toward me with an eager smile.
“Hey, we missed you.” He wraps his arms around me and pulls me in for a quick kiss. “Gale came up with an incredible new sequence. Want to see it?”
He doesn’t know.It’s a small relief. Lyot doesn’t keep secrets from me. That much hasn’t changed.
“I’m not exactly in the mood to train.” I meet Gale’s eyes over Lyot’s shoulder, and if my old lover is too excited to read my current mood, my new one is not.
“Did you come to fight? Or fuck?” His lips twitch in the barest hint of a smile, this demon who’s never been afraid of my fury.
“I figured we were done fucking now that you have what you really want.”
The room goes completely still.
“Not going to play dumb?” I ask before the silence can crush me. “Ask me what I’m talking about?”
“I am,” Lyot says, but it’s Gale he directs the question to. “What the hell is she talking about?”
“I’m guessing she talked to Carmen. Or maybe Viktor.” No confusion. No denial. Only his eyes intent on mine.
“Both, actually. And Naomi had a few things to add as well.”
“Will someone please tell me what’s going on?”
